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Employment rates within the field of nursing are on the rise, and California is no exception to this trend. Are you considering pursuing a career in pediatric nursing? Here are a few things you need to know about employment outlook for pediatric nursing in California and across the United States.

Pediatric Nurse Roles and Responsibilities

Registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners specializing in pediatric care work in number of healthcare environments, including hospitals and physicians’ offices.

In addition to the standard requirements of graduating from an accredited nursing program and passing a licensure test, nurses are generally required to have other certifications, such as PALS certification (California and other states within the U.S. follow this guideline). Additionally, every two years, nurses are required to earn their PALS recertification – California nurses will also need to meet this requirement.

California Occupational Guide describes pediatric nursing as a job that requires stamina and physical strength in order to move patients and stand/walk constantly during long work shifts. Nurses have many responsibilities, which include caring for patients, providing treatment and educating patients and their families on how to manage their illnesses or injuries. 

Wages

Wages for pediatric nurses vary based on location and the type of healthcare facility in which an individual works. According to statistics from 2008 provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median wage for registered nurses was $62,450. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $43,410, while the top 10 percent earned more than $92,240.

BLS statistics from 2010 show that California registered nurses earn the highest annual mean wage in the country, at $87,480.

Career Outlook for Nurses with PALS Certification – California and U.S.

According to the California Board of Registered Nursing, there are currently more than 330,000 nurses and 14,000 nurse practitioners with active RN licenses. BLS statistics project that the field will grow 22 percent by 2018. This is due to the fact that many nurses are expected to retire or leave the field for other reasons within the next 10 years. Additionally, technological advances in patient care allow a greater number of health problems to be treated, which will increase emphasis on preventive care and in turn increase job growth for nurses.

Job growth will vary based on the field of nursing you wish to pursue – rates for hospital jobs are expected to grow only 17 percent, while rates for jobs in physicians’ offices are expected to grow by 48 percent.

About Health Ed Solutions PALS Certification and PALS Recertification – California and U.S.

Health Ed Solutions is the most notable source for online courses offering PALS and ACLS certification – California and other states accept these courses. Visit Health Ed Solutions' website to learn more information about PALS online certification and PALS online recertification.