In order to become a licensed or a registered nurse and subsequently specialize in pediatric nursing, a student may complete an associate’s degree in nursing. This degree will give students the basic foundation of nursing, including patient care, diagnostics, medical examination procedures and medication dispensation. Upon completion of an associate’s degree in nursing from an accredited school, students can apply to write the Certified Registered Nurse Exam to become a registered nurse.
Many schools in Canada require that students obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing rather than, or after, an associate’s degree in nursing. This is a four-year degree and requires additional coursework over an associate’s degree. A bachelor’s degree in nursing covers nursing basics like biology and anatomy, as well as offers specialty courses such as children's health care. The CRNE can be written after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Before becoming a pediatric nurse, all interested applicants must first become registered nurses. In Canada, the CRNE is the national nursing licensure exam that ensures that all nurses have the same level of skill and knowledge. Upon passing this exam, the successful bachelor or associate degree holder is considered a registered nurse and can apply to specialize in pediatrics. Canada also offers a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Exam, which designates additional recognition that the student is skilled in pediatrics.
Pediatric nursing in Canada is not a designation that can be achieved through education alone. Those seeking to become pediatric nurses should find and work for a hospital that has a pediatrics department. In the application, interested candidates should specify that they would like to intern and specialize in pediatrics. Often the internship will include classroom time, as well as time spent in the pediatrics department.
Often, hospitals that offer internships do not have room available for additional staff. Upon successfully completing an internship, a pediatric nurse should apply to other hospitals around Canada, highlighting her education, nurse licensure and internship experience with pediatrics. This way the qualifications stand out, and the applicant is likely to find work in a short period of time.