Child Health Care: Impacting the way we take care of our kids

For Nurses

The Advantages of Traveling as a Nurse

If you are considering the prospect of becoming a travel nurse there are a number of benefits that can come with the idea of traveling with an agency to be a nurse abroad. Here are some of the top advantages that you can receive being a travel nurse:

Exploring new areas of the world: traveling with your work can be an excellent way that you can see new parts of the country or even new parts of the world. Imagine being able to spend your off hours exploring sandy beaches, incredible mountain ranges and more.
A great way to earn experience: there are areas all over the world that have high demand for nurses and if you are having difficulty finding a job in your local market, you could potentially qualify for a job somewhere else in the world and start building up your nursing experience abroad.
Great housing: most travel nurses have their housing expenses taken care of. When you travel for work many nurses received tax-free housing as well as some budget that can be allocated towards food and other necessities. This can be a huge relief especially if you do not want to find a permanent home as you are traveling.
You could find a new home: many travel nurses end up staying more permanently in the areas where they settle for their jobs. You may really enjoy living in an area and as a result you could potentially settle there entirely, making a huge impact in the community and becoming a permanent resident.

Consider some of these top advantages and more of being a travel nurse especially if you are interested in trying out a new adventure in nursing. Remember that there are plenty of travel nursing programs available if you have the qualifications.

For Parents

Raising Healthy Children

Ask any parent what they want for their child and on the top of their list will be first and foremost a healthy child. But how exactly do parents go about this? There are many simple things you can begin to do today to help raise healthy children.

Keys to Raising Healthy Children

One of the most important aspects of raising healthy children is to provide a healthy diet for your child. What constitutes a healthy diet for adults also applies to children, so model good habits by following a healthy diet yourself. Aim for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Grains are another important aspect of a healthy diet, but make sure at least half are whole grains, such as 100% whole grain bread, and whole grain rice products. Protein is essential and should include a variety of lean meat sources (chicken, pork, beef etc.) as well as plant sources (nuts, beans, etc.). It is not advised to give children under 5 whole nuts, though they can eat things with ground nuts (such as peanut butter) if they are over the age of one. Remember, a healthy diet is a varied diet so change things up to ensure your child is getting a variety of nutrients. Keep in mind that what you DON’T eat is also important, so limit fats and sugar.

Another major part of a healthy lifestyle is physical activity. Not only does it keep your muscles, bones and heart healthy, it can also be lots of fun! Aim for 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity each day. To keep kids interested, you can make it a family event. This ensures that you are also getting the physical activity you need. Walk the dog together, visit a local playground or try biking or hiking together. Even common household chores can help, so break out the vacuum and gardening tools. Participation in a sport, dance class or other activity can also be great sources of physical activity. Simply by limiting screen time you can increase physical activity in your child. Research shows that healthy children watch a limited amount of TV or none at all.

Also, remember to practice good personal care habits; brush teeth after each meal, wear sunscreen when outside in the sun, and wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. With these tips along with annual checkups and immunizations your child will be on their way to a healthy life.

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Job Duties

Pediatric nurse practitioners regularly work with patients from infants to adolescents. Pediatric nurses will work with alongside a pediatrician and may work in either a hospital or clinical setting. Because of the advanced care that nurse practitioners provide to patients, they go through more training and schooling than registered nurses.

Education for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

As with RN’s, pediatric nurse practitioners must get a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. Some nurses may choose to begin with CNA classes and then progress to their pediatric nurse practitioner via a 4-year degree. After that, they will need to work or practice in pediatrics for at least a year before going back to school. Then they will need to continue through school to get a Master’s degree in nursing or pediatric nurse practitioner. The Master’s degree can take between 2 and 4 years to complete. Some nurses will have a Doctorate in nursing. Nurses will study epidemiology, diagnostics, pharmacology, and more. Nurses will also need to get a specialized license. They can obtain it through the American Association of Critical care Nurses.

Job Duties of a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Pediatric nurse practitioners do a lot more than just assist pediatricians. They are able to give basic healthcare, order for medical tests, and help the doctor to figure out treatment options. In some situations these nurse practitioners will care for critically ill children with illnesses such as diabetes or cancer. Pediatric nurse practitioners may assist doctors during surgeries. Nurses in this field must be able to communicate effectively and have a knowledgeable background of medical tests and procedures. They must enjoy being around infants, children, and teens, and know how to be patient with them, as well as their parents. Pediatric nurse practitioners may have to work long and hard hours. Depending on their license, they may also be able to prescribe medications without the guidance of a doctor.

Average Salary of a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

The median salary for pediatric nurse practitioners is $92,500 per year. Nurses’ salaries can go up as they gain more experience or education. The need for pediatric nurse practitioners is expected to continue to grow, and with an increase in demand there will likely be an increase in salary as well. This is definitely a great career for those who love working with children and want a job in the medical field.

For Nurses

Duties of Obstetric Nurses

Obstetric nurses, otherwise known as OB nurses, assist doctors with the care of pregnant women and help deliver babies. OB nurses typically work in the delivery and labor department of hospitals. They may also work in doctor’s offices or clinics. They will also generally work in departments for women’s reproductive health.

Education of Obstetric Nurses

In order to become an OB nurse, one must obtain a Bachelor’s degree in registered nursing from an accredited college. Schools that offer cna classes are often the starting point for a career as an obstetric nurse, and from there a register nurse degree is pursued. After becoming an RN, a nurse can begin gaining experience as an OB nurse. There is an Inpatient Obstetric Nursing certification that is offered by the National Certification Corporation. In order to apply for this certification, a nurse must already be a RN, and have shadowed in the OB department for 24 months. At minimum they must have completed 2,000 hours of work before applying. While RNs are completing their hours, they are able to work as a doula. Doulas give non-medical attention to mothers during delivery. Training and a certification is required for doulas and can be obtained through Dona International.

Obstetric Nurse Duties

OB nurses need to be active listeners and be able to follow directions. Communicating well is important, along with being able to stay calm and patient in stressful situations. They also need to be able to react to women’s reproductive problems. OB nurses should enjoy being around moms and babies. OB nurses need to be able to focus both on the doctor and the mother’s needs, and need to keep track of the unborn baby’s health. Duties that OB nurses will perform regularly include prepping delivery rooms and patients, and making sure instruments are sterilized and prepared. OB nurses will also specialize in caring for the baby immediately after delivery and explaining care to the new parents. OB nurses may also work with expectant mothers and will provide ways to keep mothers safe from any issues for themselves or the baby.

For Nurses

Overview of a Neonatal Nurse

A neonatal nurse is one who works with babies that are either premature or born with other complications. It is a very rewarding career, but also a challenging one. The career path to becoming a neonatal nurse typically begins with local CNA training, and then after 6-month to a year of certified nursing experience expands to a nursing school institution. Being a neonatal nurse is a specialty type of nursing, and it is advised you select this specialty while still in school. It is a field that you have to be committed to when you start school, and you need to make sure that you are ready to take the career on emotionally once you graduate. A neonatal nurse is going to be working in the neonatal intensive care unit of a hospital alongside the NICU pediatricians and surgeons. It is not uncommon for a baby to pass away while under the care of the NICU staff which is what makes this career emotionally challenging.

Every nurse who chooses this field needs to have a a full understanding of what it will be like to work in a neonatal intensive care unit. Occasionally babies are born as early 23 weeks and these babies will be around 1-2 lbs and need to be on life support, feeding tubes, and other invasive medical units. Not only will the neonatal nurse need to care for the baby, but he or she will also need to care for the mother of the baby. The mother will need to be instructed how to express milk for her child as the baby will be incapable of breastfeeding in its condition. The nurse will also offer emotional support and encouragement to the family as this is a challenging time for all family members.

These nurses are the people that moms of premature babies and babies with medical complications spend the most time with, and they are often the people in the room when a delivery of a premature baby or a baby expected to have medical complications is born. The nurse is the person that does the most work for women, and it is a great service position for nurses who want to do something that is related to serving families in need.

The services that are offered by these nurses are so valuable for the babies and families in need, and these are specialists who chose this field to help people and help save the lives of infants. While it is by far one of the most rewarding nursing careers, it is equally as challenging and heartbreaking. Neonatal nursing is not for the faint of heart.