Transitioning to Pediatrics: Essential Soft Skills for Nurses
for nurses thinking about moving into pediatrics, the winter months provide a chance. RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and other viruses like influenza and colds are becoming more common in hospitals. Additionally, there is a greater need for pediatric nurses due to the increased pediatric population census.
At least some experience dealing with children may be available to nurses who have worked in smaller hospitals where peds and adult wards are occasionally integrated, making the transition easier. Adult-care nurses with some pediatric experience may receive extra training from hospitals in need of pediatric nurses.
There are occasions when labor and delivery nurses get the chance to float to a pediatric unit as well, acquiring invaluable experience that can facilitate the transfer to a pediatric nursing role. Additionally, some hospitals are eager to teach seasoned adult care nurses because there is such a high demand for pediatric nurses. An adult ICU or med-surg step-down nurse, for instance, may be prepared to work with older kids by floating to the pediatric ICU or step-down unit.
Making the most of training possibilities or emphasizing prior experience might help you start your move to pediatric nursing and work with children. While nurses who deal with children get the same education and clinical training as those who work with adults, pediatric staff members need to develop certain soft skills to interact with children and their caregivers effectively.
Pediatric nurses may build trusting connections with parents and children by practicing their interpersonal skills. Families that have faith in the hospital personnel could experience less stress and greater assistance.
Think about your communication style and how you may develop these five soft skills if you’re a novice pediatric nurse or an experienced adult-care nurse looking to move into a pediatric nursing post.
Every developmental stage of a child presents fascinating new obstacles and changes, necessitating the use of various communication techniques.
For example, a nurse may use basic language and plenty of hugs when describing a procedure to a two-year-old. For a 12-year-old, the same nurse will employ a different strategy; she could draw pictures and play a movie. To feel more in control, the older kid could be given options.
