Clinical Year: Pediatrics Rotation as a PA Student

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

On her pediatrics rotation, Savanna found the rumors had some truth: a few difficult parents and getting sick, including a mild case of pneumonia. Between well checks and sick visits she saw memorable cases like chicken pox and sickle cell crisis, and learned that working with kids is rewarding but tiring.

Last Updated: June 12, 2026

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Are the rumors about pediatrics rotations true?

There are a couple of rumors that follow pediatric rotations around, and I heard them from students across different programs. First, that the parents are the worst part. Second, that you'll definitely get sick. Honestly, there's some truth to both.

Most parents were fine, but every now and then one was tough to deal with, though never as bad as the rumors suggest. As for getting sick, kids don't exactly try to avoid coughing or sneezing in your face. I felt rotten my last week, and after multiple negative strep tests I went to student health and learned I had a mild case of pneumonia, treated with steroids and antibiotics. Lesson learned: if you feel bad for a week and it's not improving, go get checked out.

In this post:

What is a day in pediatrics like?

My rotation was at a small local clinic where most of the staff and the physician were Hispanic, so about half our patients were primarily Spanish-speaking. I'd taken some Spanish but I'm nowhere near fluent, so that was a real challenge, but everyone was kind and understanding as I tried.

My preceptor was a great teacher who'd practiced for years and seen tough cases. He liked to put me on the spot with very specific questions, whether in the room or at lunch, and I rarely knew the answers, but he was always nice about it and I learned a lot. Our class even kept a shared document of questions he'd asked past students. There are so many congenital defects and rare diseases that it's impossible to feel like you know them all coming out of school. We learn the basics. Days were a mix of well checks and sick visits, and kids can be tough, since a sick kid is already upset and doesn't want you near them.

In Our Experience

Pediatrics taught me to read kids, like looking for actual tears to tell whether a child is truly distressed or just putting on a show. It also humbled me, because there's a near-endless list of rare pediatric conditions you simply won't know yet. That's normal. You learn the foundations in school and build from there in practice.

What memorable cases come up in pediatrics?

A couple of cases really stuck with me. One was a child with chicken pox, which my preceptor said he hadn't seen in years because it's become rare in clinic. It was a textbook presentation, and the patient was only about two weeks from getting her chicken pox vaccine. I also saw a teenager in sickle cell crisis, which looked extremely painful. He'd been through it before and really needed the ER, but it was an important thing for me to witness.

I enjoyed pediatrics, but it was tiring. My preceptor was a big guy who could hold kids down when he had to, and I'm not, so even now I don't try to restrain kids while treating them because I just end up getting kicked. In dermatology I still see a good number of kids, and I like that I get to see them occasionally rather than all day.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Expect to catch a bug on your pediatrics rotation. Kids aren't exactly careful about covering coughs and sneezes, so wash your hands constantly.

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Need to Know:

Difficult parents and getting sick are real, if exaggerated, parts of peds
Wash your hands often, you'll likely catch something
Days mix well checks with sick visits
Language barriers can come up depending on the clinic
You won't know every rare congenital condition, and that's okay
Restraining kids during treatment often backfires

FAQ

Will I get sick on my pediatrics rotation?

Probably. Kids aren't careful about coughs and sneezes, so frequent hand washing is essential. Savanna ended up with a mild case of pneumonia.

Are parents really the hardest part of pediatrics?

Occasionally a parent is difficult, but most are fine. The rumor is exaggerated, though there's a kernel of truth to it.

What kinds of visits happen in pediatrics?

A mix of well checks and sick visits, with the occasional memorable case like chicken pox or sickle cell crisis.

Do I need to speak Spanish for a peds rotation?

Not necessarily, but depending on the clinic's population it can help. Staff are often understanding if you're not fluent.

How do you handle uncooperative kids?

Savanna found that trying to restrain kids during treatment often backfires. Patience and reading their cues works better.

Will I be expected to know rare pediatric conditions?

You'll learn the basics in school. There are countless rare congenital conditions, so not knowing them all is completely normal.

CLOSING

Pediatrics is rewarding and tiring in equal measure, and it teaches you patience and how to connect with nervous little patients. Go in expecting to get sick, lean on your preceptor's questions to learn, and give yourself grace on the rare cases. If you want support through clinical year, we're here for it. This post is part of our Clinical Year series, so check out the surgery and OB/GYN rotations too.

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Clinical Year: Pediatrics Rotation as a PA Student