Summary
Nursery roles
Caring for and supervising children:
The nurse takes care of the daily well-being of the children. She must also:
- deliver nursing care;
- assist the doctor;
- detect any anomalies;
- and notify the competent services, in the event of mistreatment for example.
Inform parents:
She is also responsible for giving advice, particularly on the diet of children, or reassuring parents about the health of children.
Supervise a team :
In a crèche or a drop-in centre, the nursery nurse takes care of the children, but not only. It must also manage:
- early childhood educators;
- childcare assistants;
- and childminders.
Working conditions of the childcare worker
Especially in the hospital:
More than half of childcare workers are employed by hospital services (paediatrics, neonatology, etc.) and maternity wards.
In collaboration with the pediatrician and the midwife, the childcare worker is responsible for:
- watching over newborn babies;
- carry out the first examination of babies;
- perform dressings and infusions;
- distribute drugs;
- and follow the treatments.
In PMI or nursery:
In these structures, the child nurse plays a role of prevention, protection and education with families.
The nurse is still working:
- within a team of nursing staff;
- early childhood educators;
- or social workers.
How much does a nursery nurse earn?
The salary of the nursery nurse varies according to:
- the area of the activity ;
- collective convention ;
- seniority;
- and the function performed.
In the public hospital service, it is official category A. On average, she earns €1,500 gross per month at the start of her career, and €2,500 at the end of her career.
Training to become a nurse
The state diploma of childcare worker:
To prepare for this compulsory diploma, you must hold a state diploma in nursing or midwifery, and pass the entrance examination for a childcare school.
Short but intensive studies:
Studies to become a childcare worker last 1 year after admission to the specialization school. They offer:
- theoretical lessons;
- tutorials;
- and internships.
There are about thirty nursery schools approved by the Ministry of Health.
Qualifications needed to become a nurse
Be kind:
The childcare worker must have a Sens of observation innate. He must also be open to dialogue and know how to use the appropriate terms. The families she meets may be in financial or psychological difficulty, for example.
Be in good physical condition:
Having to visit the children in their homes, the childcare worker is often on the move.
In addition, at the hospital, his schedules are often restrictive. She may be called upon to perform night and weekend on-call duty.
Content updated on 05/30/2012
Our tips:
At the moment, employment prospects are very favorable for childcare workers. As France has a high birth rate, early childhood professions are preferred.