About This Career

Diagnoses, treats, and helps prevent diseases and injuries in children. May refer patients to specialists for further diagnosis or treatment, as needed.

This career is part of the Health Science cluster Therapeutic Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Prescribes or administers treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury in infants and children.
• Examines children regularly to assess their growth and development.
• Treats children who have minor illnesses, acute and chronic health problems, and growth and development concerns.
• Examines patients or order, performs, and interprets diagnostic tests to obtain information on medical condition and determine diagnosis.
• Advises patients, parents or guardians, and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.
• Explains procedures and discusses test results or prescribed treatments with patients and parents or guardians.
• Collects, records, and maintains patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
• Monitors patients' conditions and progress and reevaluates treatments as necessary.
• Directs and coordinates activities of nurses, students, assistants, specialists, therapists, and other medical staff.
• Plans and executes medical care programs to aid in the mental and physical growth and development of children and adolescents.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and sanitation control
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Overtime work
• Weekend work