A pediatrician must be an excellent diagnostician, who during the initial examination can immediately assess the condition of the young patient. These doctors observe children from the first days of life: weigh, examine, measure growth, assess the condition of mucous membranes, skin and hair. Active observation is carried out until the child is 1 year old. Pediatricians also do the following:

• collect anamnesis, conduct admissions, and are responsible for a specific area;
• keep immunization records, record data on young patients during the appointment;
• provide medical care within their area of competence;
• examine patients staying in hospitals on a daily basis;
• examine patients at home in case of emergency;
• Conduct preventive work with the population: parents and relatives, children and adolescents, representatives of educational institutions at various levels;
• prescribe treatment and medicines, rehabilitation and other procedures. Control the correctness of their fulfillment;
• send their patients to sanatoriums and resorts, prescribe sick leave for child care, create certificates for school or kindergarten.

The pediatrician monitors the condition of the child’s body, as well as the correctness of physical and psychological development. If any abnormalities are detected, he or she immediately informs the parents about them and gives a referral to a specialized specialist. If the parents do not fully perform their duties or in any way offend the child (nutritional deficiencies, beatings, failure to comply with sanitary and hygienic norms), then the pediatrician has the right to appeal to the social welfare authorities or the police.

Pros and cons of the profession of pediatrician

Pros

• The profession will appeal to people who want to work with children.
• Pediatricians are trained in universities, the best applicants can take budget seats.
• The profession is in demand, socially significant and respected.
• In state polyclinics, pediatricians claim a low salary, but the commercial sector is more generous. A pediatrician can occupy a vacancy in a private clinic, wide opportunities for expanding the range of knowledge are open.
• Dynamic growth of salaries in the first 5-10 years of work, which is achieved through professional development.
• Good pediatricians quickly acquire permanent patients.
• Intellectual and professional growth. The opportunity to run a private practice, which will bring a stable additional income.
• Many vacancies in hospitals, medical centers, children’s institutions of different levels.

Cons

• The salaries of pediatricians are not too high after all. You need to constantly develop and work hard to increase profits.
• Responsibility for the life and health of patients.
• The work is nervous, and the schedule can be irregular.
• Parents of children often refuse to follow the doctor’s orders, engage in self-medication, are distinguished by anxiety, which complicates the activity of the pediatrician.
• Important personal qualities
• Knowing who is a pediatrician, it is not difficult to make an ideal psychological portrait: the ability to negotiate, the ability to accommodate any interlocutor, the gift of persuasion. Pediatricians have high patience, restraint, professional attentiveness and perseverance. The main quality – love for children, the desire to provide as much help and support as possible to each little patient. Absence of squeamishness and indifference is important.