POSITION STATEMENTS
SPN defines a position statement as a statement that is relevant within the current healthcare environment. It clearly and succinctly states SPN's position on an emerging, controversial or debatable topic.
The purpose of SPN position statements is to articulate the Society's official stance on a course of action or a SPN policy on pivotal issues affecting the specialty of pediatric nursing and the health care of children and their families.
The following position statements provide a well-thought-out starting point for advocacy around that issue. Use these statements to serve as a reference to support your policy at your institution.
SPN produced and endorsed position statements are researched, written, and reviewed by pediatric nurses with specialized expertise in the area of concern. All position statements go through committee and Board of Director review at a minimum of every two years.
SPN Produced Position Statements
SAFE STAFFING FOR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS
March 21, 2022
The Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN) remains committed to advocating for high-quality, culturally sensitive, and comprehensive care of children and families. The healthcare needs of pediatric patients present unique challenges due to different developmental stages, limited communication skills, and differences in epidemiology and approaches to treatment as compared to adults. This position statement serves as the framework to assist organizations providing care to children in implementing evidence-based and outcomes-driven staffing plans to promote high-quality care.
Child Welfare
September 16, 2021
Child Welfare is the promotion of child well-being and the protection from harm. The issue of child welfare is important to pediatric nurses and children's health care. The efforts of the Society of Pediatric Nurses concerning child welfare are rooted in the need to make children, and children's health, a national priority. Children may be vulnerable for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to human trafficking, social determinants of health, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (one's sexual or gender identity), intersex, and asexual/aromantic/agender(LGBTQA) concerns, and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES). The assessment of a family's resources to ensure adequate support is essential. The pediatric nurse is in the critical position to identify the needs of children, assess children's vulnerabilities, provide trauma-informed care, advocate for rights, and ensure protection.
Child Health Content in the Undergraduate Curriculum
June 10, 2021
Baccalaureate and associate degree nursing programs decrease pediatric nursing didactic content and clinical learning experiences. Revisions in the pediatric nursing undergraduate/pre-licensure curriculum emphasize existing content and concepts related to children and their families and strengthen undergraduate pediatric nursing education. The trend toward reducing child health content and clinical hours in pre-licensure education are of great concern. It threatens the preparation of future clinicians and the children in their care and neglects the specific health challenges of infancy and childhood. (Bowling et al 2018; Betz, 2017).
Importance of Immunization Against COVID-19
January 26, 2021
Last updated: January 19, 2023
SPN commends your dedication in caring for infants, children, and families SPN urges all members to rely on data and experts in the field who have determined through rigorous scientific and regulatory processes that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective. The COVID 19 vaccine is an important intervention to reduce the chances of getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, or dying. With nurses being the most trusted profession, we have the opportunity to advocate for the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine and influence our communities by educating our patients, families, neighbors and friends of the importance of vaccination. The COVID-19 vaccine is our best hope for protecting our community, including children, against COVID 19.
Significance of Population Health in Pediatric Nursing
September 18, 2020
Last Update: September 16, 2021
The purpose of this statement is to recognize the significance of population health in the delivery of patient and family-centered care to improve outcomes.
SPN Responds to Impact of Separating Children from their Caregivers
July 13, 2020
Last Update: January 2021
The Society of Pediatric Nurses joins the multitude of voices speaking out against the separation of children from families at the United States border. There is ample evidence supporting the need for infants and children to form attachments with caregivers and to remain in their care throughout childhood.
Tobacco Exposure in Children, Adolescents and Families
April 23, 2020
Updated September 20, 2022
In the United States, tobacco smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion [NCCDPHP], 2020; Gentzke et al., 2020). Tobacco smoking has been on a steady decline for both adults (1970-2020) and youth (1985-2015); however, with the introduction of e-cigarettes, there has been a significant increase in tobacco use by middle and high school-aged children (Gentzke et al., 2019). The use of e-cigarettes under the age of 14 is associated with a higher likelihood of initiating tobacco smoking and creating another generation addicted to tobacco (Lee et al., 2021).
The Role of the Pediatric Nurse in the Promotion and Protection of Human Milk and Breastfeeding
June 23, 2022
Updated September 20, 2022
To optimize child health and developmental outcomes, the World Health Organization (WHO) (2022) and the Association of Women’s Health Obstetric & Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) (2021a, 2021b) recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, and continued breastfeeding with the addition of complementary foods for the first year and beyond. However, despite improvements in breastfeeding initiation rates in the United States, exclusive breastfeeding rates at six months and one year remain low (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention ([CDC], 2021).
Transition of Pediatric Patients into Adult Care
June 21, 2019
The Society of Pediatric Nurses is committed to addressing the long-term biopsychosocial needs of adolescents and emerging adults. They include those with disabilities and special health care needs (ASHCN), preparing to leave the pediatric and child-centered care systems and enter the adult-focused systems of care. During this transition from pediatric to adult care, pediatric nurses can help these emerging adults proceed with their development to the extent possible in achieving the competencies associated with adulthood.
Early Childhood Development
July 8, 2014
The purpose of this statement is to delineate the role of the pediatric nurse as it pertains to early childhood development.
SPN Endorsed Position Statements
The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health
SPN endorses this policy statement developed and copyrighted by the American Academy of Pediatrics in August of 2019
Firearm-Related Injuries Affecting the Pediatric Population
SPN endorses this policy statement developed and copyrighted by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2012 and reaffirmed in 2017.
Weighing All Patients in Kilograms
SPN endorses this policy statement developed and copyrighted by the Emergency Nurses Association in 2020.
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