A pediatric nurse is trained to work alongside pediatricians to provide appropriate care, in the clinical setting, to children and infants. If you are still in college, you may know that there are scarce opportunities to pursue pediatric psychology at the Master’s level. Marriage and family therapists may help adults and children deal with complex issues, such as grief, divorce, depression and domestic violence. Whichever path a student decides to take, they must apply for admittance into nursing school. This position is a blend of nursing and physician training. Some are traditional, while others might be places one might not immediately think about when considering a career as a pediatric nurse. On top of traditional nursing training, a pediatric nurse takes additional courses on child anatomy, behavior, and other specialized courses designed to help in the treatment and care of children. Typically, pediatric psychologists will attend to the needs of critically ill children, such as those that have cancer or another life-threatening illness. Apply for admission to the Nursing Regulatory Body in your state. This field involves scientific research as well as clinical practice. The next client might be a teenage boy that has ADHD that is causing him a great deal of distress at school. School Psychology: School psychologists provide services in various education systems including preschools, juvenile justice programs and community-based treatment programs. To become a nurse practitioner, a nurse must study to become a nurse practitioner through an accredited program and then pass the Family Nurse Practitioner Exam. Pediatric psychologists typically work in the following environments: Pediatric psychologists need a high level of education, and that’s because they are essentially a form of clinical psychologists. As for the top paying states, the top five are California, Hawaii, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and Oregon. Nurses take vitals, ask questions about any issues the child might have and is the first medical professional the child interacts with. These programs are generally either two-year or four-year programs. Children are at a different developmental stage than an adult and may require different treatment than an adult does, which is why specialized knowledge of child develop is needed. Developmental psychologists study emotional, physical, cognitive and personality development. Pediatric nurses can work in a variety of places. Another option is to become a nurse … Factors such as geographic location and work experience will help determine your exact salary, as will sector of employment. The minimum requirement to work as a marriage and family therapist is a master’s degree. The top five states seeking nurses of all sorts are South Dakota, West Virginia, Delaware, Missouri, and Mississippi. It is also well above the average projected job growth for all US occupations during the same period (Bureau of Labor Statistics). One is to pursue pediatric psychology, which absolutely craves people with a passion for both. They need either a Ph.D. in psychology, or a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) Nationwide, there is a need for nurses, but some states are in more need than others. You may prepare for this specialization by pursuing courses in developmental psychology. A nursing diploma is offered by a hospital-based school of nursing, although diploma programs may also be affiliated with a college or university school of nursing. Medical concerns in children are doubtless particularly difficult to cope with, and advances made in the field of pediatric psychology remove some of the inherent trauma. Step 3: Become Certified as a Pediatric Nurse. Where do you live or want to live? For example, a pediatric psychologist might engage in therapy with a child that is struggling with his parents’ divorce. 1,800 hours of pediatric clinical experience as an RN during the previous 24 months or a minimum of 5 years as an RN in pediatric nursing and 3,000 hours in pediatric nursing within the last 5 years with a minimum of 1000 hours within the past 24 months. For example, a pediatric psychologist might teach parents behavioral training methods to help them better handle their child’s behavior and work towards developing a better relationship with their child. Here’s how to become a pediatric psychologist. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this involves a doctoral degree. Here’s how to become a pediatric psychologist. Pediatric psychologists belong to an occupational category that lumps together clinical, counseling, and school psychologists. This can be done by passing the Pediatric Nurse certification exam. Events during childhood can have a lasting impact on the choices, reactions and coping skills a person has as an adult.