How Much Does A Pediatric Nurse Make in the UK?

Nurses are known for having decent salaries. Depending on their specialty, they may make more than their counterparts and peers if they’re in the right field.  The pediatric nurse salary is dependent on where they work, who they work with and what specialty they have.

You might be wondering if pediatric nurses in the UK make more than pediatric nurses in the US. If you have advanced degrees or licenses, then you’ll end up making more than the equivalent of an LPN or RN in the United Kingdom.

The word pediatric means child. A pediatric nurse is one who studied to take care of children in particular. Through nursing school, nurses learn on a variety of specialties and may choose their specialty when joining the workforce.

Pediatric nurses are most commonly found in hospitals, children’s doctor’s offices, and clinics. Much of their education depends on recognizing a child’s measurements.

For example, a child’s heart rate is much quicker than an adults heart rate while a child’s blood pressure is lower than an adult’s blood pressure.

There are other differences between taking care of an adult and taking care of a child that the pediatric nurse must be aware of at all time. Pediatric nursing also includes taking care of babies, whether that’s in a Neonatal Intensive Care unit or a regular floor for children.

One of the most important differences between adults and children is medication measurements are requirements. Some medications can only be taken by adults.

In the UK, pediatric nurses make between $28,617 and $53,253 in U.S. currency. These numbers match up pretty well to American salaries. In fact, the United Kingdom is among the top ten countries in the world that pay nurses well.

These figures and more can be found on Graduate Prospects UK website. Usually, nurses in city areas make more than rural nurses. Salaries can change depending on the city and specialty of the pediatric nurse.

RN’s (Registered Nurses) tend to make the same money as pediatric nurses unless they obtain graduate degrees of extra certifications. The average pediatric nurse salary is about the same as RN’s.

Although Pediatric Nursing is a specialty itself, there are sub-divisions within Pediatric Nursing as well. Some of these sub-divisions pay more than others based on what the nurses will have to do and deal with.

In general, fast-paced nurses make more than nurses who don’t have to be in a rush. Fast paced and high-stress nursing includes emergency rooms, and Intensive Care Units. Below is a list of nursing specialties within pediatric nursing and how much they make on average in the UK.

Oncology nurses deal with treating cancer patients. Oncology Pediatric Nurses provide chemotherapy, radiations and other treatments for children.

Oncology pediatric nurses must be aware of their patient’s deficient immune systems. The patient’s immune system may be low from both chemotherapy and the fact that they’re so young, especially when toddlers must take chemotherapy.

You’re most likely to find these nurses working in cancer hospitals and research facilities. Although, some also do home care and visit children with cancer.

Pediatric Nurses in the UK can expect to make anywhere from $40,300 to $49,400 in US dollars. These nurses usually undergo advanced training and certification before being employed on an oncology floor.

Emergency Room nurses can be found in regular hospitals as well as hospitals dedicated to children. These nurses must be up to date on the requirements necessary to take care of an incoming child or baby.

ER Nurses tend to make more than any other specialty, especially when children are involved. Before taking care of children alone, they must undergo months of training and sometimes have to earn a trauma care certificate.

As the need for mental health programs goes up all over the world more, nurses are taking this on as a specialty. These nurses take care of children who may suffer from severe depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder.

Mental health pediatric nurses can work in both hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and clinics. Their main role is to give medications to patients and work closely with doctors and therapist.

In the United Kingdom, these nurses can expect to make as much as regular RN

Be aware that Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioners can make more than regular mental health nurses since they obtain master’s degrees and doctorate degrees in both nursing and mental health.

Advanced Practice Nurses are those who go beyond an undergraduate degree. This includes master’s degree programs as well as Doctor of Nursing programs.

Most commonly, a master’s degree program will allow the RN to become a Nurse Practitioner. They’re still under a doctor but have the ability to prescribe medicine and diagnose disease under the doctor’s supervision.

Obtaining a master’s degree in nursing usually takes 2-3 years from a graduate program. Online and traditional learning options are available for RN’s who want to expand their career scope.

Depending on where the Advanced Practice Nurse wants to work, they may be able to open their own office and might not require supervision from a doctor.

For nurses who get a Doctorate Degree in Nursing, they’ll be able to teach at the highest level. This means teaching graduate students and undergraduate students.

Like other countries in the world, the UK has a dire need for nurses. Pediatric nurses are in a rapidly growing field.

These nurses are usually hired in a hospital setting. When taking a child to an emergency room or ER, it’s good for the medical facility to have a place dedicated to children so they can be taken care of appropriately.

Since more child hospitals are being built in the UK, they will need nurses to fill these spots. They might even need pediatric nurses to specialize in areas such as trauma, infectious disease, and mental health.

Remember: pediatric nurses also take care of pre-term babies, so they might be needed in Maternity and Neonatal care units.

Let’s take a look at some career choices which are very similar to that of a Pediatric Nurse. A Pediatric Physical Therapist is a common occupation seen in hospitals and home care settings.

These physical therapists are trained to know the skeletal system of the children they help. This enables them to provide exercises and therapy that would benefit kids at any stage of life.

They know unique sets of treatments and exercises to implement with children. In a rehabilitation setting, they might work very closely with the pediatric nurse to assure the child gets back to optimal health.

Another similar occupation is a pediatric doctor. Like the Pediatric nurse, the doctor knows how the child’s body forms as well. Their specific training and emphasis are on treating children.

This means they change the prescriptions to suit a child or baby. You will find pediatric doctors in the hospital, doctors office or home health setting.

Not only do pediatric nurses in the UK make a decent living, they also have a very rewarding job. Helping kids can be more rewarding and interesting than older adults.

Pediatric nurses have a high satisfaction rate in their job. Children are more resilient and better able to fight off trauma, disease and other physical sicknesses.

Pediatric nurses can work in a variety of settings, so these nurses aren’t limited to just hospitals or doctors’ offices. Doing home visits gives them more flexibility and freedom.

This is another healthcare role where there is always room to grow. For instance, if a pediatric nurse works in the ER they can change at any time and work with cancer patients, or those with infectious diseases.

This is an ever-expanding role. Now you have a little insight on the benefits of becoming a pediatric nurse in the UK.