SPN History

In the mid 1980s, under the leadership of Dr. Cecily Betz and with the cooperation of many other pediatric nursing leaders, the idea of a pediatric specialty organization began to take hold. Dr. Betz communicated with many colleagues about this need and their ideas and willingness to help. She eventually steered these interests and individuals toward the formation of the group. Another pivotal event was the exciting and innovative research utilization conference Key Aspects of Comfort: Pain, Fatigue, and Nausea, held at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A large number of pediatric staff nurses, educators, and researchers attended the meeting, concerned about improving the care of infants and children in pain. The strong collegiality that emerged from the conference spilled into an unplanned dinner of many of the pediatric participants. At the dinner, they discussed the need for a pediatric nursing specialty organization and strongly supported efforts to form a society. Two ensuing actions led the way toward this development.

First, the attendees at the 1990 Contemporary Forums annual conference on Nursing Care of the Hospitalized Child in Anaheim, CA, were polled regarding they felt there was a need for such an organization. More than 400 nurses showed overwhelming support. Second, a smaller group of pediatric nurses, many of them leaders in the field, met that evening. They discussed how to proceed to start the organization, approved a draft of potential bylaws, and appointed officers for the organizations.