Pediatric Nursing Jobs in Iowa - IA

By Meg Brannagan, allied health world contributing writer
Published: July, 8 2011

There are over 20,000 pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) working across the United States. The role of pediatric nurse practitioners is not to replace pediatricians; rather, PNPs work as counterparts to physicians, seeing many patients whose conditions may not warrant the specialized attention of an MD.

Some nurses who have worked in pediatrics may decide to return to school to move into advanced practice roles. Studying the specialized concepts of pediatric care through advanced nursing degree programs is the preferred path for those interested in learning how to become pediatric nurses. Pediatric nurse practitioner programs in Iowa focus on teaching students how to diagnose and treat common pediatric illnesses, and address the unique responsibilities that come with having prescriptive authority.  Classes are available both online and through classroom study, depending on student preference.  

Following graduation from an accredited program, aspiring PNPs pursue additional certification through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, which provides a comprehensive exam that covers many concepts of pediatric and adolescent care. By passing this exam, pediatric nurses and nurse practitioners add to their credentials and demonstrate their professional commitment to this specialized area of nursing. Once certified, the Iowa Board of Nursing requires PNPs to register as advanced registered nurse practitioners, which qualifies them to prescribe medication to pediatric patients.

Salary Expectations for pediatric nurses in Iowa

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t distinguish RNs from nurse practitioners and other specialized nurses when providing salary figures.  For this reason figures provided are skewed lower. The average registered nurse salary in Iowa is $5,1970 with the top 90th percentile earning $70,080 per year. Depending on the desired schedule and the location of employment, PNP graduates may find jobs in various locations throughout Iowa, such as Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines or Genesis Medical Center in Davenport, but many also practice independently.