About the Society of Pediatric Nurses 

Our Mission

The mission of the Society of Pediatric Nurses is to advance the specialty of pediatric nursing through excellence in education, research and practice.

• Vision and Core Values 
• Bylaws

Our Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN) remains dedicated to its mission of advancing the specialty of pediatric nursing through excellence in education, research, and practice. SPN values its diverse membership providing care across roles, settings, geographic locations and patient populations.

Our patient population and members are diverse, with different intersecting characteristics including skin color, body size, race, ethnicity, country of origin, language spoken, sexual orientation, ability, socioeconomic status, education level, religion, gender identity and more.

SPN will continue to harness the power of varied viewpoints and lived experiences, following through with action as well as word. SPN is dedicated to evaluating diversity, equity and inclusion at an organizational level and within its membership. Additionally, SPN will provide evidence-informed guidance and support for caring for the full spectrum of challenges facing pediatric populations today. SPN will provide resources for all pediatric nurses to educate themselves on how to care for diverse populations, to celebrate diversity within their workplaces, and to acknowledge the contributions of minority populations towards the advancement of pediatric nursing.

Our Statement on Racism and Inequality

The Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN) believes that Black lives matter. We stand in solidarity with those who call for awareness and action against racism and inequality. We hold the fundamental belief that all children deserve fair and equitable access to resources to survive and thrive. We believe in the dignity of our members and in every child and family that we serve. SPN is committed to providing its leaders and members with education on racial bias and to advocating for policies that promote social justice and reduce disparities.

Our Future

SPN is the pediatric nursing organization for pediatric nurses. We continuously strive to meet the needs of our members, promote career advancement of pediatric nurses, and pave the way to improve facility outcomes by ensuring global pediatric standards of care and clinical practice guidelines are integrated into healthcare. 94% of current members agreed that SPN educational programs have increased their knowledge and 62% indicated improved outcomes from using SPN educational products. View our 2019 - 2022 Strategic Plan. 

Our History

The idea of establishing a pediatric specialty organization began to take hold in the mid 1980s, under the leadership of Dr. Cecily Betz and in cooperation with many pediatric nursing leaders. Following the Key Aspects of Comfort: Pain, Fatigue, and Nausea conference, a large number of pediatric staff nurses, educators, and researchers met and discussed the need to improve the care of infants and children in pain. A strong collegiality emerged from the conference and spilled into an unplanned dinner of many of the pediatric participants. Following the 1990 Contemporary Forums annual conference on Nursing Care of the Hospitalized Child in Anaheim, CA, SPN's founding SPN members established the framework for the society. SPN has grown to over 3,600 members since its beginnings in 1990 and continues to grow. View SPN Past Presidents.

Our Members

SPN is the premier pediatric society representing over 3,600 pediatric nurses and 28 specializations. SPN strives to support nurses in their practice by providing educational resources, news in pediatric trends, and opportunities to network with nurses around the country. Join SPN and become of a part of pediatric nurse dialogue nationwide. 

Interested in connecting with SPN members, conducting a research survey relevant to pediatric nurses, or promoting your products and serves to our audience? Reach Our Members. 

Become a Pediatric Nurse

Pediatric nurses are Registered Nurses (RNs) who care for children of all ages in a variety of healthcare settings. They graduate from a nursing school within a college or a university and then take a credentialing examination known as NCLEX. All nursing students learn to care for children through formal classes and guided clinical experiences. Undergraduate nursing programs do not offer a specific program for pediatric nurses. Learn More.

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 If you would like general information about our organization and members, please download our SPN Fact Sheet