Chances are, you think of childhood as a carefree time, free of mental illness.  Unfortunately, stress, abuse and neglect, as well as mercury, lead, and pesticide poisoning rob many of our children of their mental wellbeing.  With all these factors taken into account, it should come as no surprise that ADD, childhood schizophrenia, autism, and many other mental disorders are on the rise.  As a pediatric mental nurse, you’ll have the opportunity to help these children deal with their conditions and live as normally as possible.

 

Job Description

 

As a pediatric mental nurse, you’ll work with children that have all kinds of disorders.  You may be called on to deal with children that have sudden, violent outbursts, or you may work with children that have locked themselves into their own worlds.  While you won’t be qualified as a mental therapist, you’ll still be responsible for attending to these children’s needs and instructing them in ways to take care of themselves.

 

Educational Requirements

 

In order to be qualified as a pediatric mental nurse, you’ll need to take specialized classes during your nursing program.  In addition to your regular nursing school classes, you’ll attend special programs and seminars to learn the best ways to manage children with mental disorders.  Just like any other type of nurse, you’ll need to register for and pass your state licensing exams in order to qualify for a position, and you may be required to attend continuing education courses to maintain your license.  While your studies may be very demanding, there’s no question that you’ll have a very rewarding career ahead of you.

 

Job Settings

 

If you pursue a career as a pediatric mental nurse, you’ll likely wind up working for a hospital or other medical institution.  Even if you’re working with children, you may find yourself working in a locked or secured psychiatric ward within the hospital.  You may also decide to work with a child psychologist or therapist.  In this situation, you may be asked to attend therapy sessions to monitor the child’s progress, in addition to working with the child on a more interactive basis.  Finally, you may also want to consider working as a private duty nurse.  Typically, in this role, you’ll go into the home of each child and perform any number of care-giving tasks to assist the family.

 

Career Opportunities

 

Given the increase in pediatric mental illnesses, there are a number of different career opportunities for psychiatric nurses.  Aside from remaining in nursing, you may decide to pursue further education to become a counselor or therapist.  In particular, you may want to go for certification as a substance abuse counselor, or as a child psychologist.  There’s no question that practical experience you gain as a nurse in this field will go a long way towards helping you recognize mental illnesses and understand how they are managed in a clinical setting.

 

As with any other kind of illness, it can be heartbreaking to watch a child that has been robbed of a sound mind.  Unfortunately, today’s societal pressures and environmental hazards are bound to cause many more children to suffer from psychological problems.  While you won’t be able to cure every child you work with, at the very least, you’ll be able to offer some comfort to their troubled minds.