Pediatric LPNs
Career Guide: Salary, Job Duties, and More
This page offers details on the expected salaries, day-to-day job duties, and additional insights for those exploring or considering a career as a pediatric LPN.
What is a Pediatric LPN?
Pediatric licensed practical nurses are critical members of children’s healthcare teams. They assist physicians, nurses, and other providers in pediatric clinics, hospitals, and other care settings by confirming patient charts, preparing exam rooms, handing tools, tracking vital statistics, helping with tests, and transporting children and families. Their wide-ranging medical, technical, and clerical duties need training in pediatric care and a dedication to patient well-being and safety guidelines.
Read on to learn more about the steps to train for this position, and answers to commonly asked questions.
Key Responsibilities of a Pediatric LPN
The role requires expertise in pediatric care procedures, familiarity with specialized equipment, and knowledge of child safety best practices. Pediatric LPNs provide critical assistance so that doctors, nurses, and other providers can effectively concentrate on treating young patients.
With strong organizational skills and the ability to work well under pressure, they help ensure smooth patient flow.
- Preparing exam rooms by sanitizing equipment and stocking necessary supplies
- Assisting the pediatric team with gowning and gloving prior to seeing patients
- Coordinating and processing necessary documentation like vaccine records
- Facilitating communication between families and healthcare staff
- Assisting doctors, nurses, and other providers during appointments by passing instruments, taking vitals, and adjusting exam tables
- Preparing specimens for transport to labs after collection
- Monitoring patient status and test results
The outlook for careers as pediatric LPNs appears promising over the next decade, with job growth projected to outpace the average rate substantially. Underlying this robust expansion is a confluence of factors fueling greater demand. Advances in pediatric medicine spurring the need for specialized assistants, rising rates of chronic childhood illnesses, and the proliferation of pediatric specialty clinics and children’s hospitals where many young patients receive care are all converging to heighten demand.
Pediatric LPNs possessing certification and adaptability performing diverse procedures should experience expanding job prospects and avenues for career advancement amid these supportive conditions. The combination of rapid growth and the value of specialized skills points toward a favorable environment for those training to enter this vital role within the healthcare workforce supporting pediatric patient care.
National Average: $63,142.00
| U.S. Regions | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| West | $63,334.00 |
| Midwest | $57,169.00 |
| Northeast | $62,732.00 |
| Southwest | $59,628.00 |
| Southeast | $59,351.00 |
Additional Key Information:
| Salary Range | $51,500.00 entry level to $84,129.00+ |
| Common Benefits | Health insurance, retirement, vacation & bonuses |
How Do I Become a Pediatric LPN?
Pursuing a career as a pediatric LPN to support doctors, nurses, and other providers in children’s healthcare is an incredibly rewarding path for those interested in pediatric care. Properly preparing for this critical role requires progressing through key education, certification, and practical experience milestones:
Education
- Earn a high school diploma or equivalent to establish baseline skills and knowledge for further development
- Enroll in a 1 year LPN diploma program or 2 year associate's degree covering pediatric care, procedures, pharmacology, anatomy, patient/family education, and patient assistance.
Certification
- Obtain relevant credentials like CPN to demonstrate expertise in areas like medical terminology, clinical processes, pediatric patient care, and healthcare standards.
Practical Experience
- Complete a supervised clinical rotation internship or externship offered through quality programs.
Those aspiring to become pediatric LPNs have a rewarding career ahead helping care teams treat young patients. The key is laying the proper foundation through education, hands-on training, and credentialing. Enroll in an accredited LPN program specializing in pediatric care to establish core knowledge. Reinforce learning via clinical externships offered in quality programs.
Consider relevant part-time work for added exposure as well. Certifications like CPN boost qualifications and job prospects. Keeping these pointers in mind will lead to success in launching this fulfilling career supporting critical pediatric procedures.
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