What do paediatric and child health nurses do?
They practice where nursing services are required by infants, children and young people, at venues including home, school, community, hospital, hospice and long-term care facilities. Most children's health services employ a much higher ratio of registered nurses to enrolled nurses, with most community-based child health services only employing registered nurses.

How can I become a paediatric and child health nurse?
Employers may require nurses to have specialist qualifications in paediatrics before employing them, while others provide transitional education programs. Graduate certificate programs provide the educational foundation of beginning specialty practice. Graduate diploma and masters level studies support the development of advanced practice and leadership skills for the nurse specialist. There are also graduate positions available in paediatrics.

Many paediatric and child health nurses undertake postgraduate education with majors in aspects of children's health. The course is usually in the discipline of nursing, but may also be in other health disciplines such as community health, primary health care, public health or health education. A variety of majors or electives are available within these disciplines, such as community child health, child development, paediatric nursing, adolescent health, paediatric oncology, paediatric critical care, disability, mental health, school nursing. For more information on postgraduate course availability in this area, click here to go to the further education section.

What opportunities are available for paediatric and child health nurses?
Today there are a number of career paths for nurses who want to work with children. Postgraduate specialist nurse education usually articulates from graduate certificate to masters level, with many universities awarding credit for transitional education programs provided by employers. So nurses may expand their practice in the areas of management, research or teaching, while still maintaining a focus on children's health and wellbeing.

Where can I get more information on paediatric and child health nursing?
In 2000, the Australian Confederation of Paediatric and Child Health Nurses (ACPCHN) developed competencies for specialist paediatric and child health nurses to guide specialist education and professional development.