Current Topics for the Pediatric Sedation Nurse
An Invitation from the SPS Nursing Committee
By Carrie Makin
Section Editor
A number of opportunities exist for nurses and child life specialists to participate on subcommittees within the SPS Nursing Committee. These subcommittees include Education and Certification, Research, Advanced Practice, Moderate Sedation and Non-Pharmacological Adjuncts. The Nursing Committee has been working hard to engage participation and growth through these various subcommittees.
Over the past three years most of our efforts have been focused on the subject of education and certification of sedation nurses. Along these lines, we have established standards of care and competencies for pediatric sedation nurses. In addition, our continuing efforts are directed towards the development of an accredited certification program that will provide national recognition for pediatric sedation nurses as a nursing specialty.
The non-pharmacological adjuncts subcommittee embodies a multidisciplinary approach with child life specialists and nurses. This group has been developing clinical tools to assess a child’s level of understanding, cooperativeness and need for procedural sedation. Quite exciting is the possibility that the results of this assessment could have an impact on the future of our practice!
During this year, much of our efforts will focus on promoting the nursing research, advanced practice, and moderate sedation subcommittees. We hope that interested members will consider joining us on these subcommittees. Further information about these subcommittees can be obtained as follows:
- General Information: Debbie LaViolette debbilarn@verizon.net or Joye Stewart joye@societyhq.com
- Education and Certification: Valerie Houser valzspsmail@gmail.com
- Research: Carrie Makin cmakin@uwhealth.org
- Advanced Practice: Lorie Reilly reilly1@email.chop.edu
- Moderate Sedation: Flora Enaje ftenaje@texaschildrens.org
- Non-Pharmacological Adjuncts: Kris Murray kfrey@uwhealth.org
