Cassi
Questions about what pediatric mental health nurses do?
I am a 10th grade student in high school in an early college prep program. I will graduate high school with an LPN. For my English class we are doing a project about researching a career we have interest in and having a job fair at the end to showcase our research. I am very interested in being a pediatric psych/mental health nurse. I have some questions for someone in that field.
1. What does a typical shift look like? (From when you clock in to when you clock out)
2. What is the best part of your job? What do you like most about working as a pediatric psych/mental health nurse? (Pros)
3. What is the worst part of your job? What do you like least about it? (Cons)
4. What differences are there working with kids vs working with adults? (other than the obvious and if you have had experience working with adults)
5. How long did it take you to get to this job? (How many years of education did you need? Did you need any special certifications? What position did you have before this one?)
6. Do you work inpatient or outpatient?
7. What drew you to become a pediatric psych/mental health nurse?
8. What advice would you give to someone considering this position? (What would you do differently if you could do it over again)
1 answer
Chinyere Okafor
Chinyere’s Answer
As a 10th grader, you already have a remarkable degree of clarity, and enrolling in an early college program demonstrates your true leadership potential. You're definitely headed in the right direction by exploring pediatric mental health nursing now, which provides you a head start on a subject that is both highly influential and expanding quickly.
A pediatric psych/mental health nurse's shift usually starts with a handoff meeting when they go over treatment plans, safety notes, patient updates, and any behavioral changes from the previous shift. The position combines therapeutic assistance with clinical duties throughout the day, including medication administration, vital sign monitoring, de-escalating emotional crises, progress documentation, collaboration with psychiatrists and therapists, and developing trust with young patients and their families. Usually, you've finished charting, briefed the next nurse, and finished any safety checks by the time you clock off. Despite its structure, it is never predictable.
The impact is the best aspect of the work. You get to make children feel recognized, safe, and supported when they are afraid, overwhelmed, or misunderstood. For many nurses, witnessing a child develop self-assurance, stabilize emotionally, or have a stronger reunion with their family is the true victory.
However, the role can also be emotionally taxing. There are strong times associated with pediatric mental health, such as emotional family situations, trauma disclosures, and behavioral outbursts. There are days when you depart exhausted due to the rapid pace.
Working with children differs significantly from working with adults. Children use their actions more than their words to communicate their distress. You participate more actively and therapeutically because they depend on habit, trust, patience, and creativity. Additionally, you work closely with families, sometimes as educators, sometimes as allies, and sometimes as guides during extremely challenging conversations.
Although your LPN gives you a significant advantage, the majority of pediatric psychiatric nurses begin by earning an RN or BSN. Before entering the psychiatric field, many nurses work in pediatric or med-surg units to obtain foundational expertise. Although they are valuable, specialized certificates like the PMH-RN are often obtained after gaining clinical experience. The environment determines whether an individual works inpatient or outpatient; many start inpatient since it provides more robust crisis management training.
Most people pursue this specialty because they feel compassion for children who are having difficulties and wish to alter a child's life trajectory at an early age. Although difficult, the task has great significance.
The greatest recommendation for anyone considering a career in childcare is to gain experience as soon as possible. You can accomplish this by volunteering, shadowing, working in child-focused organizations, or exploring behavioral-health responsibilities as you advance through nursing school.
Invest in emotional boundaries, develop resilience skills, and surround yourself with mentors who exemplify good wellness practices. Many nurses say they wish they had prioritized self-care sooner and pursued more training in communication and trauma-informed care when asked what they would do differently.
You have a bright career outlook and are on a high-value route. Continue pursuing your interest; it is already leading you in the right direction.
Best wishes!
Thank you so much Chinyere for taking the time to respond to all of my questions. I truly appreciate your thoughtful answers! I feel like I have a much better insight on pediatric psych nursing now! Hearing that day's can be challenging but so rewarding is really motivating. I want a job that gives me a meaningful purpose, so your feedback is so helpful. Thank you again for answering my questions and helping me with my project!
Cassi
You’re so welcome, Cassi! I’m really glad the insights helped clarify things for you. Your passion for supporting kids in mental health settings already shows you’re headed in a meaningful direction. Wishing you all the best with your project, and your future in pediatric psych nursing!
Chinyere Okafor