Summarize the following:
Children are not just smaller adults, physiologically or psychologically.  Their growing and changing bodies (and minds) require particular types of care and distinctive ways of providing it.  Not all nurses, even exceptional ones, are cut out for pediatrics.  First and foremost, you must embrace the challenges and rewards of working with children.  You must also dedicate yourself to understanding their specific health needs. You must be patient, understanding, and ready to deal with the unexpected.  You’ll need excellent communication skills, including the ability to explain medical subjects to both small children and their parents. You need to be willing and able to be a major figure in office visits — you will often be the “first line” of medical care.  You need to be able to provide vaccinations to crying infants, exams to tantrum-throwing eight year olds, and sound advice to know-it-all teenagers. Patient education and preventative medicine are of particular importance for pediatric nurses.  It helps to have an interest in going out into the community — visiting schools, working at health fairs, etc. — to provide advice and care. Pediatric nursing is a specialization for trained nurses, not a separate career path.  In other words, you have to become a nurse before you can become a pediatric nurse.  In the U.S., you can choose between an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree, which normally takes two years, or a Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing (BSN) degree, which typically takes four.  An increasing number of trade schools, dedicated nursing schools, community colleges, and universities offer one or both of these options. While the ASN degree offers the faster path, the BSN degree is generally considered the better path toward becoming a pediatric nurse (or any other type of specialized nurse, for that matter).  With the strong demand for nurses, both ASN and BSN degree-holders should find employment, but those with the advanced degree will hold an automatic advantage in getting ahead in the field. Most nursing schools do not have a specific track for pediatric specialties, but they usually do offer courses with a pediatric emphasis.  If you are serious about a career as a pediatric nurse, take as many of these classes as possible while in nursing school. For instance, courses in child health and child psychology should be particularly useful.  If you are in a nursing program at a college or university, you can probably find an array of elective courses that deal with childhood development. By doing so, you will achieve official status as a nurse, and can then begin directing your career toward a pediatric specialty.  To become an RN in the U.S., you must complete an ASN or BSN degree program and pass the NCLEX exam. The National Council Licensure Exam for RNs is offered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).  The exam takes approximately six hours to complete, and is offered regularly in numerous locations.  Check the NCSBN website (https://www.ncsbn.org/nclex.htm) for more information on the exam. Start while you are a nursing student, using your time to learn all you can about the pediatric nursing field. Read books, look at websites, talk to your teachers, and talk to current pediatric nurses.  The Society of Pediatric Nurses website offers information on the field, and the organization produces the Journal of Pediatric Nursing (http://www.pedsnurses.org/). Volunteer in the pediatric wing of your local hospital, or a clinic, or anywhere else that provides care to children. Apply for intern programs that offer new nurses training specifically for pediatrics. Apply to work at sites that provide care to children, such as a pediatrician's office or pediatric after-hour care facility. Research the nursing requirements that are set up in the state you plan to practice in.  Consider earning APN status as a step toward additional advanced certifications and licensures that are also either required or highly recommended for pediatric nurses. You may also want to look into extending your education to earn a Master of Science in Nursing degree (MSN), which normally requires an additional two years of coursework.  As discussed in the following Part of this article, the MSN is a stepping stone to several advanced degrees and certifications in pediatric nursing, such as becoming a Certified Pediatric Nurse or Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

summary: Consider your suitability for a pediatric specialty. Choose a nursing program. Take courses related to pediatrics. Become a Registered Nurse (RN). Gain experience working with children. Seek recognition as an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) by your state board of nursing.


Summarize the following:
If a boat, dock, or some other solid object you can climb upon is no more than a few yards away, swim to it and get out of the water. Otherwise, stay put. Even strong swimmers can end up drowning when they try to swim in cold water. When too much body heat gets lost, hypothermia sets in very fast. Hopefully you're wearing a life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD), because it's imperative that you stay afloat. You don't want to have to do the doggie paddle to keep your head above water, since that uses up too much energy. Make sure your life jacket or PFD is fastened tightly, and lean back a bit to make it easier to keep your head above the water's surface.  Look around for something that may be floating in the water that could help you stay afloat. If your boat capsized, you may see a lifesaver ring, seat cushions, or other items you can grab. If you don't have anything to keep you afloat, you'll have to use your hands and feet. Try to move as little as possible, making only as many movements as necessary to keep your face out of the water. The Heat Escape Lessening Position, called HELP, keeps your body as warm as possible and conserves energy while you wait to be rescued. Draw your legs up to your chest and cross your feet. Wrap your arms around your chest and keep all your appendages close to your chest. Now "sit" in this position and bob on the water's surface.  HELP only works if you're wearing a PFD that keeps your head above the water without your having to move. Don't attempt HELP unless you're wearing a PFD. If you're wearing a life jacket that's designed in such a way as to make it difficult to assume HELP, assume the "survival position" instead. Keeping your head above the water, hold your body vertical with your arms straight at your sides, and your legs straightened and held together. If you're in the water with other people, the best way to stay warm is to huddle together. Get close to each other and lock arms and legs so that you're forming a big group hug. Make as much bodily contact with each other as you can. This uses up much-needed energy for survival. Have faith things will turn out if you are in need of rescue and keep as clear-headed as possible. As soon as you get out of the water, dry, off, warm up, and get  treated for hypothermia. If you were in the cold water for more than a minute or two, you could sustain organ damage, so it's essential that you get checked out as soon as possible.
summary: Swim only if a boat or solid object is in reach. Keep your head above the water. Assume the HELP position. Huddle if you can. Avoid panicking. Get medical attention.