What are the pros and cons of being a pediatric nurse?

Pros:

• Competitive Benefits. Pediatric nurses make more than the average salary of a career in the United States. Along with that, they also tend to have good benefits such as medical coverage, life insurance, retirement funds, and paid time off.

• Rewarding Work. Pediatric nurses are able to work to help a child feel happy even in hard situations. Children are still children, even if they are going through chemotherapy, or dealing with injuries. This can be very inspiring to be around and work with.

• Work Wardrobe. If deciding what you are going to wear daily is something that is difficult for you, nursing could be a great option. You wear a uniform of scrubs daily, which makes getting dressed easy.

Cons

• Long Shifts. Many hospitals work on a 12-hour schedule, which while extremely beneficial for patient care, can be difficult for the staff. This can also be difficult for staff who have families, as they may go days without seeing them.

• Emotional Burnout. Pediatric nurses witness a lot of children suffering, which can be extremely traumatic for them. It is not uncommon for nurses to feel burnout emotionally after a few years of witnessing children going through so many difficulties.

• Virus Exposure. Nurses and staff try to take all the necessary steps for prevention, but they are still often exposed to various illnesses. If you are someone who already has a lowered immune system, this may be a deciding factor in choosing against nursing.