Now that you’ve started your career as a CNA, you might want to consider specializing in pediatrics. Becoming a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) specializing in pediatrics, is an incredible opportunity to use your skills. Working with children can be rewarding, impactful, and meaningful.

We’ve gathered some ideas to help along on your journey to becoming a pediatric CNA, including how to find an employer, recommended training and certifications, and helpful qualifications.  

Daily Tasks of a Pediatric CNA

If you’re thinking about becoming a pediatric CNA, it’s helpful to know what exactly the work entails. Overall, a pediatric CNA’s role is to care for patients and ensure everything runs smoothly in the department. There are many responsibilities that a CNA will have during their shift. From providing patient care to assisting with general activities, there’s plenty to keep you busy! Here are some of the day-to-day tasks of a pediatric CNA:

• Gather patient information

• Take patient vitals throughout the day

• Complete rounds

• Check to see if supplies are stocked and put in orders for any supplies that might be running low

• Provide administrative support and help out with general tasks in the unit

• Administer medication, depending on state laws

You might also help with admissions by setting up rooms for new patients, setting up new charts, and inputting their information into the hospital’s system. At the end of a patient’s stay, you might help by walking a patient out, stripping the room, and discharging them from the system. Like any CNA role, shifts can vary in length, times, and days of the week. You might need to be prepared to work nights or weekends.

Potential Employers for a Pediatric CNA

Many different employers need to hire pediatric CNAs. These include: 

• Children’s hospitals

• General hospitals with pediatric units

• Surgical hospitals with pediatric units

• Specialty healthcare facilities

• Other medical centers/facilities

Training and Certifications

Unlike many other nursing jobs, you don’t need a college degree or need to complete a lengthy nursing school to become a CNA. You only need to find a CNA school in your state, complete your CNA training program and competency exam. If you plan to specialize, it’s helpful to have pediatric training. This can help you stand out from the crowd and show you are a stellar candidate for a pediatric role.

One step that can be useful is getting pediatric-centric certifications, nurse certifications, and training such as PALS training and PEARS training. Each of these classes can be completed in as little as one day but will have a significant impact on your career. By completing certification courses, you will be prepared to handle emergency situations and better understand pediatric-specific needs.

1. PALS Certification

Pediatric Advanced Life support (PALS) training is an essential step as you prepare for a pediatric CNA role. It will help you learn how to handle life-threatening situations and medical emergencies specific to children, including pediatric CPR and other techniques.

To become certified, you can take a PALS Certification class. This course will cover topics like pediatric assessment, management of pediatric respiratory emergencies, vascular access, airway management, PALS pharmacology, Basic Life Support (BLS) review, and more. Through case studies and simulations, you’ll learn how to deal with many different situations you might encounter while working in pediatrics. 

At the end of the PALS class, you’ll take an assessment test. Once you pass the test and complete the initial course, your certification will last for two years, and you will receive a certification card. When your certification expires, you can take an update or renewal course to maintain your credentials. If you don’t have much experience with ECGs (heart rhythms), it’s also recommended that you take a basic ECG and Pharmacology course prior to getting your PALS certification. Your PALS experience will be much smoother and easier with your ECG basics completed and you will take away more from the class if you have a small foundation of ECG and pharmacology basics. 

2. PEARS Certification

Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition, and Stabilization (PEARS) training is another excellent way to prepare for your future as a pediatric CNA. With a focus on emergency preparedness, PEARS Training can help you learn how to recognize and respond to medical emergencies in children. You will learn how to handle various situations, including respiratory distress, shock, and cardiac arrest. While PALS classes include team leadership instruction, PEARS classes are centered around being a team member. 

At a PEARS Certification class, you’ll learn how to administer life-saving care. This class will cover basic pediatric assessment, respiratory compromise and arrest recognition and management, and circulatory compromise and arrest recognition and management. Additionally, you’ll go over shock recognition and management, as well as review the pediatric chain of survival and Basic Life Support (BLS). Similar to the PALS Certification class, you will be taught through case studies and simulations.

finding a job as a pediatrics cna

It can also be helpful to augment your resume with related work experiences. Showing that you have experience working with kids can give you a competitive advantage when applying for pediatric CNA jobs. Of course, working with children is very different from working with adults, so demonstrating that you are aware of the proper bedside manner for kids can help you get the job. 

Structure your resume around your pediatrics-related experiences. Ideally, you’ll already have experience as a general CNA and additional pediatric experience in an inpatient, outpatient, or long term care setting.

If you’ve previously worked with children in a non-medical setting, such as a daycare, school, or summer camp, make sure to note that in your resume and interview. This will demonstrate your passion for working with children and show that you’re prepared to meet the unique requirements that come with a pediatrics role.

Healthcare-specific qualifications are essential, but so are the more general qualities that any hiring manager would be looking for in a strong candidate. So, it’s also useful to show that you’ve had prior experiences that have helped you develop organizational skills, attention to detail, written and oral communication skills, and similar workplace expertise. Since you will likely be using a computer to enter patient information, solid computer literacy is also beneficial. All of these qualifications will come in handy no matter where you are applying!

We hope this helped you learn more about becoming a pediatric CNA—wishing you the best of luck with your job search as a Certified Pediatric Nurse Assistant!

Guest Author Bio: Zack Zarrilli is a retired firefighter/paramedic and the founder of SureFire CPR. His company has ranked in the Top 10 of all Small Businesses to work for in Orange County every year since 2014. SureFire CPR’s team of professional firefighters, nurses, paramedics, and EMTs trains people how to "Be the Difference" between life and death by providing lifesaving training to hospitals, schools, businesses, and families to all Southern California.