My Role as a Pediatric Nurse, the Challenges and the Rewards
Variation of roles is seen from a Pediatric Nurse as time goes by. With these, a pediatric nurse should be flexible enough to adapt to these changes. The role of a Pediatric Nurse may be different from one institution to another, but the fundamental responsibilities remain constant.
Like all nurses, I am a primary caregiver of pediatric clients. This is the “meat-and potato” role of a pediatric nurse. Being the most basic role, I provide preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative care for pediatric clients. In the healthcare setting, this is discerned by giving comfort, feeding, and performing hygienic activities. The challenge is that care for one child differs from another child, despite of similarities in developmental stage. This is true of the principle that every child is unique. I also act as a representative not only for the child, but also for the family and other healthcare providers. This is the advocate role which safeguards the child’s right, to assist, and to provide best care from the health team. A pediatric nurse is also a nurse educator. Speaking of significant others, I provide information about the prevention of illness, promotion or health maintenance of child’s health. The challenge about being an educator depends on the intellectual status of the significant others. As mentioned earlier, a nurse should be flexible enough to adapt in these kinds of situation. And as a nurse recreationist, I play a supportive role for the child to provide play facilities for recreation and diversion to decrease crisis imposed by illness or hospitalization. A challenge arises if the child is handicapped, palsied, or “special child”. They should not be classified by chronological age group but should be selected in terms of the capacity of the child and the developmental and therapeutic purpose served. With these, the nurse should be resourceful and creative enough to address the needs of...