ABSTRACT
The question of what makes an "excellent" pediatric nurse has been asked frequently by both pediatric and non-pediatric nurses for many years. Longevity in the practice setting, increased formal education in the care of children and families, positive satisfaction surveys post encounter, quantity of professional presentations and publications, and specialty certification are often listed when discussing pediatric nursing excellence. However, pediatric nursing excellence (PNE) is not well defined. Current recognition mechanisms such as clinical ladders, Magnet© and Pathways© programs, and Benner's stages of clinical competence are not specific for pediatric nursing practice. Once the characteristics of pediatric nursing excellence are determined, they can be used as the basis for identifying pediatric-specific quality indicators. In 2020, SPN initiated a project to define the construct of "pediatric nursing excellence". Two years later, SPN published its Pediatric Nursing Excellence Model, consisting of a visual depiction accompanied by definitions of 16 concepts that comprise the PNE Model. This article presents the five stages of the development process, the components of a model of pediatric nursing excellence, and the potential uses of such a model.
Subject(s)
Nurses, Pediatric , Pediatric Nursing , Humans , Child , Pediatric Nursing/education , Clinical Competence , Models, Nursing , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Historically, the goal of care in a pediatric or neonatal intensive care unit was to do everything medically possible to cure illness or prolong life. When curative therapies were no longer appropriate, the approach was to turn to end-of-life care. Currently, some children are surviving illnesses that formerly resulted in death or significant disability. Their lives may be viewed as lacking in quality. A palliative care approach can be used in select pediatric populations to improve quality of life, clarify treatment decisions to be aligned with the child's goals and values, and minimize suffering.
