by The profession of a pediatrician is one of the most fulfilling, so many people who are thinking about becoming a doctor are interested in the pediatrician job.
A pediatrician is a specialized doctor working with and treating children.
The responsibilities of pediatricians are similar to other doctors but include specific requirements to meet the needs of their little patients.
Besides, pediatricians have a lot of responsibilities ranging from admitting to examining and prescribing treatment to children.
Based on the case they work with, pediatricians may have to perform regular check-ups, draw blood, and assess the efficiency of the recommended treatment.
Article Table of Contents
What Does a Pediatrician Do
Pediatricians have a variety of tasks to attend to every day throughout their shifts.
Pediatricians work with any type of case from tiny scratches to life-threatening diseases affecting babies and children.
As compared to other doctors, pediatricians need excellent interpersonal skills and great intuition to work with children and treat their needs.
Responsibilities
The job of a pediatrician includes aspects of all stages of treatment necessary to help young patients.
It comes with the investigation and making a diagnosis and recommending the right treatment.
So, if you wish to start a career as a pediatrician, you need to know the primary duties of the job.
- Examining patients and ordering the appropriate tests.
- Performing various tests including blood sampling, X-rays, etc.
- Interpreting the test results and making the right diagnosis.
- Recommending treatment appropriate to the age and development of the patient.
- Performing check-ups to evaluate the growth and development of a child.
- Collecting and interpreting information about patients related to their medical history.
- Recommending the proper diets and hygiene procedures to parents and patients to prevent diseases.
- Monitoring the health of the patient and referring them to a specialist if needed.
Essential Skills
Field knowledge:
Pediatricians need to have a deep understanding of the development and psychology of children.
They also need extensive knowledge of innovations and findings in the field to properly perform their duties.
Communication:
Pediatricians need to possess excellent communication skills to be able to acquire information about what bothers their little patients.
They have to advise on the next steps in a way a child can understand them.
Besides, they should be able to establish relations of cooperation with a child.
Interpersonal:
Pediatricians need to have a gentle approach when dealing with children to inspire hope, optimism, and confidence.
They also need a great deal of patience with children and their parents.
They need to understand the needs of a child and treat them accordingly.
Stress resilience:
Pediatricians need a high tolerance for stress and to be able to work under pressure.
They should also be able and willing to work late hours.
How to Become a Pediatrician
The requirements for pediatricians imply a variety of specialized and general qualities together with specific certification and training.
Pediatricians need to graduate from a Med school and complete the residency program.
Additionally, they need to possess a set of necessary personal skills and traits.
Training and Qualifications
First of all, you should remember that pediatricians deal with multiple unexpected situations since they work with young patients who can’t express their discomfort properly.
Therefore, pediatricians need to know the specifics of the child’s psychology and be able to get information from children who can be uncooperative, scared, or shy.
The profession of a pediatrician requires particular qualifications and extended training.
With all these, pediatricians can become qualified to examine and treat children.
They need formal education and experience in the field.
Besides, pediatricians need to undergo periodic verification that helps ensure that every doctor offers quality treatment.
- College degree.
- Med School degree.
- Residency.
- Certification from the American Board of Pediatricians.
Each of these degrees can be improved by participating in specialized events and conferences.
Also, experience in top-quality facilities offering treatment for children suffering from various diseases or injuries can be highly beneficial.
Experience
First, pediatricians need to complete four years of college.
Next, they have to finish the first stage of Med school lasting for 4 years, then they take 3 to 8 years of residency.
Additionally, pediatricians need to have a certification from the American Board of Pediatricians.
Becoming a pediatrician involves a lot of hard work for a long time.
So, if you are pursuing the career of a pediatrician, bear in mind that passion and hard work are essential to succeed on the job.
Working Hours
Similar to other medical professions, pediatricians may have hectic work hours and work on weekends and holidays.
Pediatricians carry responsibilities for the lives of children, babies, and adolescents.
So, they often have to sacrifice the comfort of regular working hours to help their patients.
Pediatricians need a great deal of passion and determination.
There are various aspects of the job you need to consider.
Pediatricians are often exposed to various illnesses, and they should be punctual and act professionally.
Career Outlook
Pediatricians can make as much as $184,240 annually, with the average hourly rate of $88.58.
As the BLS has reported in 2015, the majority of pediatricians per state practice in California, Texas, and New York.
The highest salaries for pediatricians exists in Mississippi, Utah, and Montana.
In Mississippi, pediatricians make $270,430 with $130.02 per hour; $267,020 and $128.37 in Utah, while in Montana, they are paid $117.76 hourly or $244,940 per year.
The career of a pediatrician comes with a lot of work but also with a great deal of personal and professional growth and development.
Pediatricians can practice various specialties.
They can become general pediatricians, primary care pediatricians, pediatric surgeons, etc.
However, the vast part of the pediatrician’s job is being patient, gentle, and professional and communicate effectively with patients and parents.
Conclusion
The job of a pediatrician involves a lot of interpersonal skills and patience.
Now that you know the responsibilities and requirements for the pediatrician job, you can make an informed decision.
It takes a long time to become a pediatrician, including education, training, certification, and experience.
But the career is highly rewarding and fulfilling.
Therefore, with patience and hard work, you can make your dream of becoming a pediatrician come true.