Pediatric Nursing

The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) is a nurse with a graduate degree in advanced practice nursing providing health care to children aged 0 to 21 years and in some occasion, to those beyond 21 years. PNP is required to complete a formal educational program specializing in pediatric health care and pass the State Board's regulations pertaining to advanced practice nursing.

Education

To be able to practice pediatric nursing, a master's degree in nursing is required. PNP programs focus providing instruction regarding “care of children, professional leadership, research utilization for evidence-based practice, consultation, advocacy, and systems intervention to enhance care quality. The curricular content includes growth and development; pathophysiology; pharmacology; health promotion; ethics; physical, developmental, family, cultural, community, and environmental assessment; laboratory skills; and the diagnosis and management of behavioral problems and childhood illnesses, both acute and chronic conditions” (National Association of Pediatric Nursing Practitioners, 2004). Didactic and clinical practices form part of the curriculum.

Practice Parameters

Pediatric Nursing Practitioners are allowed to provide health care services to children

in the following areas:

• Obtaining the patient's history, conducting a physical exam, and requesting for proper laboratory tests and procedures
• Assessment, diagnosis, management and evaluation of care
• Giving prescriptions and making referrals
• Coming up with wholesome activities together with the patient
• Consult other members of the health care team
• PNP may act as consultant to nurse practitioner
• Assuming responsibility for work-related actions and decisions such as combining risk management strategies with clinical practice

PNPs practice in accordance with the State Nurse Practice Act and specific state laws and regulations. All fifty (50) states have different definition, scope and authority to prescribe. Proper prescription of pharmacological agents is vital part of PNPs comprehensive management.

STANDARDS OF PRACTICE

Process of Care

The PNP combines both scientific and theoretical bases for the practice. The extent of the health care services and the accompanying standards adhered to in rendering those services are delineated in the state Nurse Practice Acts, licensure and regulatory mechanisms, work setting privileges and/or credentialing, and collaborative agreements.

The extent of health care services and practice standards by PNPs consist of:

Assessment and Diagnosis:

• Taking the patient's complete developmental, health, and medical history
• Conduct physical examinations taking the age and history in consideration
• Request for screen and lab tests and diagnostic procedures that fits the age and condition of the patient
• Compare and contrast clinical findings in diagnoses with disparity
• Evaluate and diagnose childhood illnesses
• Create a plan of care from the combined input of the child and family
• Refer to other health care providers

Interventions:

• Provide comprehensive health plans
• Treat chronic and acute conditions of children
• Allowing family and child to participate in the plan of care
• Prescribe proper pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions such as alternative therapies in accordance with prescriptive authority allowed by the state
• Educate child and family with regards to child's health
• Give suitable follow-up care
• Use other suitable intervention(s) within required limits
• Provide care
• Consult other health care providers if needed
• Guarantee quality care
• Provide access to apt community means
• Support the children and families

Evaluation:

• Monitor and assess accuracy of diagnosis and effectiveness of treatment
• Monitor child and family reaction to treatments
• Alter interventions if needed
• Monitor and assess effectiveness of practice
• Take part in Continuous Quality Improvement practices
• Use evaluations or recommend modifications