A pediatric nurse specializes in providing healthcare to infants, children, and adolescents, working in various settings like hospitals, clinics, and community health organizations, focusing on their unique developmental needs.

Pediatric nurses are trained to understand the specific health needs and developmental stages of children, from newborns to teenagers.

To become a pediatric nurse, you need to earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), pass the NCLEX-RN exam, and obtain RN license, followed by gaining experience in pediatric nursing.

High school classes should include English/language arts, algebra, geometry, biology and chemistry. Other recommended courses include physics, psychology, speech, foreign language, and anatomy/physiology. Many college advisors recommend higher-level Advanced Placement (AP) classes when possible.

Salaries can range from around $60,000 to $84,000 per year

Pediatric nurses in California can earn up to around $134,200 annually, with some top earners reaching higher than that.

The founder of modern nursing is widely considered to be Florence Nightingale.

Her Nightingale Training School for Nurses, founded in 1873, is also considered the first nursing school.

The Bellevue Hospital School of Nursing, also founded in 1873, was the first nursing school in the United States and operated on the same principles put forth by Nightingale.