Children's nurse

Career path and progression

With experience, you could:

• specialise in an area like burns, child protection, cancer care, neonatal nursing or intensive care
• run a ward or team of nurses by becoming a clinical team leader or ward manager
• work towards a management role like matron or director of nursing
• train as a health visitor, school nurse or practise nurse in a doctor's surgery
• do further study to become a nurse consultant and carry out research and training

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• knowledge of medicine
• knowledge of psychology
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• leadership skills
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• customer service skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Biology - Children's nurses need a thorough understanding of how the human body works, including how children grow and develop differently from adults. They use this knowledge when assessing symptoms, understanding how diseases affect the body, and monitoring how well treatments are working.
• Chemistry - Children's nurses administer medications and injections, so they need to understand how drugs interact with the body and why dosages must be carefully calculated – especially for children of different ages and sizes. Knowledge of chemistry also helps when understanding blood tests and other diagnostic results.
• Psychology - Children's nurses observe and interpret children's behaviour to assess how well treatment is working, which requires understanding child development and emotional responses. They also support anxious parents and distressed children, so knowing how people react to stress and illness is a key part of the role.
• Mathematics - Children's nurses calculate drug dosages based on a child's weight and age, which requires confidence with numbers, ratios, and unit conversions. Getting these calculations right is critical to patient safety, especially with very young or premature babies.
• English Language - Children's nurses communicate complex medical information to parents and carers in a way that is clear and reassuring. They also write detailed patient notes and care plans that other healthcare professionals rely on to provide safe, consistent treatment.

Also relevant

• Sociology - Children's nurses work with families from many different backgrounds and need to understand how factors like poverty, culture, and family structure can affect a child's health and wellbeing. This awareness helps them provide care that is sensitive to each family's circumstances.
• Physical Education - Children's nurses often work long shifts that involve standing, lifting, and moving patients, so physical fitness matters. Understanding the body's physical capabilities and limitations also helps when supporting children's rehabilitation and recovery from illness or injury.
• Food Preparation and Nutrition - Children's nurses advise parents and carers on nutrition, which is especially important for children recovering from illness or managing long-term conditions. Understanding dietary needs at different stages of childhood helps them support healthy growth and development.