9 answers
amianka
Student
Lowell, Massachusetts
1
Question
Asked
1963 views
what should I do to prepare myself as a sophomore in high school who wants to be a pediatric nurse ?
I wanted to know how I prepare myself for the medical field what should I know ..... and also colleges
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9 answers
Harkunwar Ghuman
Medical Assistant / CPT 1
1
Answer
Sacramento, California
Updated
Harkunwar’s Answer
Hi Amianka,
My name is Harry, and I’m also pursuing a career in nursing. I have eight years of experience in the healthcare field, and I’d like to offer some advice as you explore your path.
One of the best things you can do is look into volunteer opportunities at local hospitals, care facilities, outpatient clinics, or inpatient settings. Volunteering is a great way to gain exposure and learn more about different areas of healthcare.
I started my Medical Assistant certification during my senior year of high school when I was 16. If your high school offers any medical or health science programs, I recommend talking to your school counselors—they can help guide you in the right direction.
If you're considering nursing, a smart route is to complete your general education and pre-nursing courses at a local community college, especially if you qualify for free tuition for the first two years. You can also look into dual enrollment programs that allow you to take college classes while in high school.
After that, you can apply to nursing programs in your area. I’m not familiar with the education system in Lowell, since I live in California, but reaching out to local community hospitals or health-related volunteer organizations can be a great start.
Wishing you the best of luck on your journey!
– Harry Ghuman
My name is Harry, and I’m also pursuing a career in nursing. I have eight years of experience in the healthcare field, and I’d like to offer some advice as you explore your path.
One of the best things you can do is look into volunteer opportunities at local hospitals, care facilities, outpatient clinics, or inpatient settings. Volunteering is a great way to gain exposure and learn more about different areas of healthcare.
I started my Medical Assistant certification during my senior year of high school when I was 16. If your high school offers any medical or health science programs, I recommend talking to your school counselors—they can help guide you in the right direction.
If you're considering nursing, a smart route is to complete your general education and pre-nursing courses at a local community college, especially if you qualify for free tuition for the first two years. You can also look into dual enrollment programs that allow you to take college classes while in high school.
After that, you can apply to nursing programs in your area. I’m not familiar with the education system in Lowell, since I live in California, but reaching out to local community hospitals or health-related volunteer organizations can be a great start.
Wishing you the best of luck on your journey!
– Harry Ghuman
Thank you, Harkunwar!
amianka
Sasha DaSilva-Stillwagon
Neonatal & pediatric critical care transport
2
Answers
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Updated
Sasha’s Answer
Hi Amianka,
Congrats on deciding to be a nurse! It can definitely take you amazing places. Personally I would consider obtaining either your Emergency Medical Technician certification or your certified nursing assistant as soon as your are of age. This gives you employment, while you gain clinical experience in your field. I personally would feel that volunteering could add additional stress while in a nursing program. Your time might be better utilized in one of these entry level healthcare positions that will pay you ( literally) to learn about treating patients.
As an EMT you will learn critical thinking, patient assessment, how to figure out “sick vs not sick”, first aid, CPR, how to use a defibrillator and apply a tourniquet among many other things. You will encounter patients of all ages so you will have an opportunity to care for sick pediatric patients to ensure that is what you want your specialty to be. But you may find you have interest elsewhere ie ER, PICU, etc… you never know.
If you become a certified nurses’s aide you will be certified to do less tasks, and no fun equipment to do it with. But you will learn to care for patients ( and yes that includes wiping butts), learn the ins and outs of the hospital and its rules and systems. Become acquainted with doctors and nurses, many of whom love to teach and would probably be willing to help you study if you were stuck. Advantages are you can get into a hospital or hospital system early and establish seniority, receive benefits ( including things like tuition reimbursement and assistance) while you go to nursing school. Either way by the time you’re done with nursing school you will be so far in front of your classmates experience wise, you hit the ground with your nursing career, running. Good luck!
Figure out what is the quickest certification you are interested in getting to get a job while you’re in school.
Congrats on deciding to be a nurse! It can definitely take you amazing places. Personally I would consider obtaining either your Emergency Medical Technician certification or your certified nursing assistant as soon as your are of age. This gives you employment, while you gain clinical experience in your field. I personally would feel that volunteering could add additional stress while in a nursing program. Your time might be better utilized in one of these entry level healthcare positions that will pay you ( literally) to learn about treating patients.
As an EMT you will learn critical thinking, patient assessment, how to figure out “sick vs not sick”, first aid, CPR, how to use a defibrillator and apply a tourniquet among many other things. You will encounter patients of all ages so you will have an opportunity to care for sick pediatric patients to ensure that is what you want your specialty to be. But you may find you have interest elsewhere ie ER, PICU, etc… you never know.
If you become a certified nurses’s aide you will be certified to do less tasks, and no fun equipment to do it with. But you will learn to care for patients ( and yes that includes wiping butts), learn the ins and outs of the hospital and its rules and systems. Become acquainted with doctors and nurses, many of whom love to teach and would probably be willing to help you study if you were stuck. Advantages are you can get into a hospital or hospital system early and establish seniority, receive benefits ( including things like tuition reimbursement and assistance) while you go to nursing school. Either way by the time you’re done with nursing school you will be so far in front of your classmates experience wise, you hit the ground with your nursing career, running. Good luck!
Sasha recommends the following next steps:
Desiree Haubner, PMP PMI-ACP, Google Digital Leader
Project Manager
1
Answer
Jacksonville, Florida
Updated
Desiree’s Answer
Hello,
I definitely agree with others on advice to volunteer and get a CNA to start. One additional small piece of advice I have is to also look in your local community for people in the field and reach to have a conversation. LinkedIn can be a great resource and many professionals are happy to share their experiences with others. Ask them to honestly describe to good, bad, and ugly of what they do day to day.
One thing I particularly like about the nursing field is the diversity of options. Beyond beside their are so many other options for nurses like, home health, research, consulting, etc. It is a truly rewarding field with many options. I wish you much success no matter what route you take in life!
Desiree
Some schools offer dual enrollment CNA programs. Explore if this exist in your area.
Make 5 contacts on LinkedIn and request a virtual chat.
I definitely agree with others on advice to volunteer and get a CNA to start. One additional small piece of advice I have is to also look in your local community for people in the field and reach to have a conversation. LinkedIn can be a great resource and many professionals are happy to share their experiences with others. Ask them to honestly describe to good, bad, and ugly of what they do day to day.
One thing I particularly like about the nursing field is the diversity of options. Beyond beside their are so many other options for nurses like, home health, research, consulting, etc. It is a truly rewarding field with many options. I wish you much success no matter what route you take in life!
Desiree
Desiree recommends the following next steps:
Kyla Remigio
CNA/ PCT/ PCA/ Nurse Extern
13
Answers
Converse, Texas
Updated
Kyla’s Answer
That’s awesome that you already know you want to be a pediatric nurse, starting early gives you a big advantage! As a sophomore in high school, you could volunteer at your local hospital. Check nearby hospitals online to see if they offer volunteer programs. Some places even let volunteers interact with pediatric patients or cuddle NICU babies. This gives you firsthand exposure the hospital environment and let you see what a day in the life of a nurse might look like. it also helps you build connections with staff (which can be great for future job opportunities and your resume).
If you can, shadowing a pediatric nurse will give you deeper insight into the role. It's one of the best ways to see what pediatric nursing is really like and see if it’s the right fit for you. I would check with the pediatric clinical educator of whatever hospital you would like shadow.
You also want to build a strong foundation in science. If they offer Medical Terminology as a class, I would advise taking it. Focus on doing well in Anatomy and Physiology (aka A&P), this is a big part of nursing school. Understanding the body and how it works early on makes it easier when you dive into pediatric specific info later… examples being Developmental Milestones and Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development (extremely important and will drive your peds class and career).
Most nursing schools require the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills), which includes science, math, reading, and English. You can start looking at practice questions now if you like, just to get a feel for it. BUT… as someone currently in nursing school, I can tell you firsthand that it gets intense and in some cases overwhelming. You’ll need a strong support system, so make time now to enjoy high school, build good friendships, and make memories. Also stay focused on your grades and seek out leadership roles when you can (nursing schools love that)!
Consider the type of nursing program you want, there are different levels of nursing education. LVN/LPN (Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurse) have shorter, faster programs. ADN/ASN (associate degree of nursing/associate of science in nursing) usually is 2 years, after working as an RN you can usually get your employer to pay for your BSN. BSN (bachelor of science in nursing) is a 4 year program, often preferred in specialty nursing (like peds). Some schools also offer accelerated BSN programs, which are faster, but more intense with shorter breaks (BSN in 3 years instead of 4).
The right school depends on your location, and the program you are aiming for. Since I’m in Texas, I can’t give exact schools near you, but here are some examples from my area: San Antonio College (SAC), UTSA, UT Health, Galen College of Nursing, WGU, ECPI, Hallmark, Texas Lutheran, and probably more. This is a mix of community colleges and universities, both public and private. Look at what programs schools near you offer and make sure they are accredited. You’re doing great by thinking about all of this early! Just keep learning, asking questions, and staying focused, you got this!!!
Kyla recommends the following next steps:
Eddie Markie
Talent Acquisition
5
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Eddie’s Answer
Great question! Becoming an RN is highly competitive & impacted - especially for peds.
I recommend volunteering at a hospital close to you and do your best to get towards the peds dept. You can obtain your CNA while obtaining your RN license and use this to get a foot in the door with the care system you want to work for. Again, do your best to volunteer & obtain entry level CNA role in the population you want to serve. You will be able to build connection with the leaders of the unity which help you stand out once you obtain your RN license and apply for related roles.
Wishing you the best of success.
I recommend volunteering at a hospital close to you and do your best to get towards the peds dept. You can obtain your CNA while obtaining your RN license and use this to get a foot in the door with the care system you want to work for. Again, do your best to volunteer & obtain entry level CNA role in the population you want to serve. You will be able to build connection with the leaders of the unity which help you stand out once you obtain your RN license and apply for related roles.
Wishing you the best of success.
Michael Torio
Consultant - Data Reporting & Analysis (HQ Finance)
422
Answers
Alpharetta, Georgia
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Hi Amianka:
While in high school, one will need to focus on science and math classes to prepare for a Pediatric Nursing career. Physics, chemistry and biology will be the core science courses. For math, algebra, geometry and statistics will be needed. Both concentrations will enable you to focus and refine your analytical skills for research; complex problem solving; investigative and innovative critical thinking; attention to detail; etc.
Other skills that will need to be built upon center around team building, team work and communication. In any work culture, collaboration among team members, staff and partner departments occur on a daily basis. As a Pediatric Nurse, communication is essential and critical when dealing with patients, medical personnel and other hospital staff. A college course in public speaking, communications and English will help with one's communication and writing skills. While in high school, the debate team will provide the opportunity to sharpen communication skills which are backed with research and factual data and information.
Here are the Top 10 Best Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs of 2025 per www.nurse.org:
https://nurse.org/articles/top-pediatric-nurse-practitioner-programs/
- Duke University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Johns Hopkins University
- Rush University
- University of Washington
- Vanderbilt University
- Yale
- University of California - San Francisco
- Columbia University
- University of Pittsburgh
U.S. News & World Report has additional college listings for the best schools for a Master Degree in Nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice:
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-nursing-schools
A Bachelor of Science (BSN) in Nursing will concentrate more on math and science courses. This will be earned at a college or university for a duration of four years. Clinical experience is gained while in nursing school at a college or university. Physiology, psychology and anatomy are some additional college courses that are required for one to take to become a Registered Nurse (RN).
When reviewing colleges and universities, it is best to check the following:
- In-State vs Out of State Tuition
- Internships
- Scholarships
- Career Placement upon graduation
- Course work and offered classes
- Post-Graduate Degrees - Master and Doctoral
There are scholarships based on need, academic performance, school activities, sports involvement and community service. So, it will be to your advantage to seek out these types of scholarships. All of the academic staff at your high school that you interact with can write letters of recommendations for you based on what was just stated above. These recommendations can greatly help when filling out college and scholarship applications.
There will be a application fee to pay for when submitting college applications. The amount of application fee will depend on the college that you are applying to. If there are questions about the college application process, please reach out to the college's Registrar Office.
College and scholarship applications can start to be submitted during your Junior year and will continue throughout your Senior year in high school. It is best to ask your Academic Advisor/School Counselor on the timeline process as well. College and scholarship applications will have specific deadlines and requirements to meet in order to be submitted for review and consideration.
You may want to start to compile your resume/portfolio since a majority of college and scholarship applications will require academic grade point average (GPA), academic accomplishments, school activities (clubs, sports, etc.), community involvement (volunteer, church, etc.), academic and personal recommendations, etc. There may be essay requirements on why you are a qualified candidate to receive the scholarship and acceptance to the applied college of choice, what your future goals are academically and professionally and other questions centering around who you are, your beliefs, etc.
Here are a couple of links for College Scholarships:
https://www.mometrix.com/blog/scholarships-for-college/
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/websites-to-kick-off-your-scholarship-search
Also, it will be best to check with the colleges and universities that you will be applying to. You can check with the School/Department of your desired major, the Campus Career Center and the Register's Office for additional information for college scholarships and grants and specific requirements for qualifications.
There should be no limit on the amount of scholarships that one can apply to. It will take time to fill out the scholarship applications and provide all of the necessary required information. Also, there should no fee and no cost to fill out and submit scholarship applications. If there is a fee or cost that is associated with a scholarship application, then please do not send this particular scholarship application in. It will be a scam and money will be lost.
According to Johnson and Johnson, here is a link for Nursing Specialties:
https://nursing.jnj.com/specialty
Here is a list of some of the High Demand Nurse Specialties:
- Cardiac Care Nurse
- Certified Nurse Midwife
- Emergency Nurse
- Perioperative Nurse
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Labor and Delivery Nurse (L&D)
- Home Health Nurse
- Hospice Nurse
- Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse
- Nurse Practitioner
- Obstetrics Nurse
- Oncology Nurse
Best wishes for your education and career path in Pediatric Nursing!
While in high school, one will need to focus on science and math classes to prepare for a Pediatric Nursing career. Physics, chemistry and biology will be the core science courses. For math, algebra, geometry and statistics will be needed. Both concentrations will enable you to focus and refine your analytical skills for research; complex problem solving; investigative and innovative critical thinking; attention to detail; etc.
Other skills that will need to be built upon center around team building, team work and communication. In any work culture, collaboration among team members, staff and partner departments occur on a daily basis. As a Pediatric Nurse, communication is essential and critical when dealing with patients, medical personnel and other hospital staff. A college course in public speaking, communications and English will help with one's communication and writing skills. While in high school, the debate team will provide the opportunity to sharpen communication skills which are backed with research and factual data and information.
Here are the Top 10 Best Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs of 2025 per www.nurse.org:
https://nurse.org/articles/top-pediatric-nurse-practitioner-programs/
- Duke University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Johns Hopkins University
- Rush University
- University of Washington
- Vanderbilt University
- Yale
- University of California - San Francisco
- Columbia University
- University of Pittsburgh
U.S. News & World Report has additional college listings for the best schools for a Master Degree in Nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice:
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-nursing-schools
A Bachelor of Science (BSN) in Nursing will concentrate more on math and science courses. This will be earned at a college or university for a duration of four years. Clinical experience is gained while in nursing school at a college or university. Physiology, psychology and anatomy are some additional college courses that are required for one to take to become a Registered Nurse (RN).
When reviewing colleges and universities, it is best to check the following:
- In-State vs Out of State Tuition
- Internships
- Scholarships
- Career Placement upon graduation
- Course work and offered classes
- Post-Graduate Degrees - Master and Doctoral
There are scholarships based on need, academic performance, school activities, sports involvement and community service. So, it will be to your advantage to seek out these types of scholarships. All of the academic staff at your high school that you interact with can write letters of recommendations for you based on what was just stated above. These recommendations can greatly help when filling out college and scholarship applications.
There will be a application fee to pay for when submitting college applications. The amount of application fee will depend on the college that you are applying to. If there are questions about the college application process, please reach out to the college's Registrar Office.
College and scholarship applications can start to be submitted during your Junior year and will continue throughout your Senior year in high school. It is best to ask your Academic Advisor/School Counselor on the timeline process as well. College and scholarship applications will have specific deadlines and requirements to meet in order to be submitted for review and consideration.
You may want to start to compile your resume/portfolio since a majority of college and scholarship applications will require academic grade point average (GPA), academic accomplishments, school activities (clubs, sports, etc.), community involvement (volunteer, church, etc.), academic and personal recommendations, etc. There may be essay requirements on why you are a qualified candidate to receive the scholarship and acceptance to the applied college of choice, what your future goals are academically and professionally and other questions centering around who you are, your beliefs, etc.
Here are a couple of links for College Scholarships:
https://www.mometrix.com/blog/scholarships-for-college/
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/websites-to-kick-off-your-scholarship-search
Also, it will be best to check with the colleges and universities that you will be applying to. You can check with the School/Department of your desired major, the Campus Career Center and the Register's Office for additional information for college scholarships and grants and specific requirements for qualifications.
There should be no limit on the amount of scholarships that one can apply to. It will take time to fill out the scholarship applications and provide all of the necessary required information. Also, there should no fee and no cost to fill out and submit scholarship applications. If there is a fee or cost that is associated with a scholarship application, then please do not send this particular scholarship application in. It will be a scam and money will be lost.
According to Johnson and Johnson, here is a link for Nursing Specialties:
https://nursing.jnj.com/specialty
Here is a list of some of the High Demand Nurse Specialties:
- Cardiac Care Nurse
- Certified Nurse Midwife
- Emergency Nurse
- Perioperative Nurse
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Labor and Delivery Nurse (L&D)
- Home Health Nurse
- Hospice Nurse
- Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse
- Nurse Practitioner
- Obstetrics Nurse
- Oncology Nurse
Best wishes for your education and career path in Pediatric Nursing!
Elyse Crotty
Certified Surgical Technologist
42
Answers
Jacksonville, Florida
Updated
Elyse’s Answer
Volunteer on the pediatric floor at your local hospital :) Even just 2 hours a week adds up!
Carmen Decker
Nurse Practitioner
21
Answers
Tacoma, Washington
Updated
Carmen’s Answer
I absolutely agree with Harry about volunteering! Experience in healthcare settings can help students make informed decisions about which area of nursing they plan to pursue and gain confidence in a hospital setting. You may find that you love nursing, but pediatrics isn't for you, or it may solidify your commitment to caring for this population. Most moderate to large cities have a children's hospital, and that may be good place to look into. Your school may also have a volunteer program. I added a link to the children's hospital in my town, so you can see what might be available in your area.
https://www.childrenscolorado.org/community/support-childrens-colorado/volunteer/teen-volunteer-opportunities/#:~:text=Teen%20volunteers%20work%20in%20many,and%20have%20a%20bigger%20impact.
As far as academic preparation goes, try to maintain a good grade point average. Some nursing schools are quite competitive, and GPA matters. I found math and public speaking to be challenging in nursing school, so if those are not your strong subjects either, considering spending more time on those areas. At my job, I use math every day to calculate children's medication doses, and I have to be good at it!
Hope this helps! Best of luck in school and future career in nursing!
https://www.childrenscolorado.org/community/support-childrens-colorado/volunteer/teen-volunteer-opportunities/#:~:text=Teen%20volunteers%20work%20in%20many,and%20have%20a%20bigger%20impact.
As far as academic preparation goes, try to maintain a good grade point average. Some nursing schools are quite competitive, and GPA matters. I found math and public speaking to be challenging in nursing school, so if those are not your strong subjects either, considering spending more time on those areas. At my job, I use math every day to calculate children's medication doses, and I have to be good at it!
Hope this helps! Best of luck in school and future career in nursing!
Thank you so much for the advice.
amianka
Dana Ross
5
Answers
Updated
Dana’s Answer
Hi Amianka - I agree with what others have said about volunteering. I am sure local hospitals and non-profit organizations have volunteer support needs which would give you great experience and help build your resume. Make sure you are taking the right classes to set you up for college courses and even consider taking a college course or two if your schedule permits. Good luck! My sister is a nurse practitioner and loves her career.