title: Preparing pediatric nurse leaders for practice.
abstract: The growing prevalence of chronic conditions in childhood underscores the urgent need to educate pediatric nurse leaders to address the complex issues these children and families face. This article describes a model of graduate education for preparing pediatric nurse leaders who are equipped to manage and advocate for these children and families. Fifty-one master's prepared graduates completed a Strategic Plan Needs Assessment Survey in 2007 and were asked to indicate specific clinical and leadership competencies that they perceived were essential for pediatric nurse leaders in their areas of practice. Results revealed the highest priority for continuing education and outreach regarding pediatric health to be clinical updates and management of children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN), followed by health promotion for CSHCN and care coordination/case management. The highest priority for continuing education and outreach regarding leadership in pediatrics was evidence-based practice, followed by team care/interdisciplinary practice. The challenge for current nurse leaders is to be cognizant of the urgent need to prepare and retain future pediatric nurse leaders who are experts in the care of CSHCN and their families.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Center for Children With Special Health Care Needs, University of Minnesota, 308 Harvard St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. ocon0025@umn.edu
authors.forename: Susan K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: O'Conner-Von
authors.forename: Wendy S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Looman
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lindeke
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garwick
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leonard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D004506:Education, Nursing; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D008910:Minnesota; D017145:Models, Educational; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000193:education* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States