The pediatric nurse-practitioner program: expanding the role of the nurse to provide increased health care for children

Abstract

The pediatric nurse-practitioner program prepares nurses to assume an expanded role in providing total health care to children in the offices of private pediatricians and in areas with inadequate health services. Nurses provide comprehensive well-child care to well children and identify, appraise, and temporarily manage certain acute and chronic conditions of the sick child. The program has resulted in a realignment of functions performed by physicians and nurses so that each of them can assume responsibility for those aspects of the patients'' needs that they can perform most effectively. As associates of pediatricians in private practice, pediatric nurse practitioners function skillfully and competently in providing professional service which results in improved patient care and the more efficient and effective use of the skills and time of both the physician and the nurse.