Paediatric Emergency Nurse Practitioner

Job/Role Summary

Assess, diagnose, treat, refer on or discharge children with minor injuries within an Accident and Emergency department. Work as part of the senior nursing team within A+E department. Health promotion.

Specific qualifications and experience required

• Registered Children’s Nurse
• 5 years Children’s A+E experience 2 years of which are at band 6
• Completion of level 3 module in autonomous practice (or something similar) – studied as part of BSC in Emergency Nursing

Career Milestones

• Completion of advanced paediatric life support course moved career in direction of paediatric emergency care.
• The development of the adult emergency nursing practitioner (ENP) service created my interest and motivated me to commence the ENP course which became part of my degree.
• Moved to management position where I was allowed to take on the role of an ENP on an ad hoc basis within Paediatric A+E department.
• Moved to Northern Ireland for personal reasons and was successful in gaining a post as a paediatric ENP in a children’s A+E department.

What attracted you to this job?

• The fact that this was the ideal career move given my qualifications and interest.
• I needed a post when i moved to Northern Ireland.

Enjoyable aspects of the job/role

• Being autonomous.
• Providing a good service to children with positive feedback from families.
• Being a role model for junior staff.

Important success factors

• Good communication skills with colleagues, patients and families.
• Job satisfaction.
• The existence of this post in paediatrics specifically.

Advice for those considering the type of job/role?

• 5 years experience in A+E.
• Specific interest in minor injuries as involvement in resuscitation situations is limited.
• Ability to be flexible working hours to suit service.

Key skills that can be gained within this job/role?

• Autonomy
• Good communication skills
• Development of documentation skills
• Increased knowledge of anatomy and physiology
• Gaining skill of x-ray interpretation.

Career Profiles