Authors

  1. McKenna, Chris MSN, RN, CRNP
  2. Schweer, Lynn H. MSN, RN, CNP

Article Content

Children need a voice in this world, especially those who are injured. As nurses who love and care for kids, it is our responsibility to share our knowledge with others who provide care to young children and adolescents. You may say that you "only take care of adults"; however, many of us are parents, many of us are aunts or uncles, and all of us have kids in the neighborhood. It would be nice if all children were treated in pediatric trauma centers. This is not realistic. As a nurse, you may be asked by a neighbor for clinical advice regarding a minor injury to a child; you may be a nurse in a community hospital who must assume the role of providing care or transferring a child; and lastly, you may be a nurse who cares for children who are not just "little adults" but have specific needs. Whatever your reason, we submit to you that this pediatric content is relevant to all trauma nurses.

 

The Journal of Trauma Nursing (JTN) provided us with this amazing prospect of a pediatric-specific issue. Members of the Pediatric Steering Committee, a subgroup of the Society of Trauma Nurses (STN) Special Pediatric Interest Group (SIG), jumped at this wonderful opportunity. As past and current cochairs of the Pediatric SIG, we quickly committed ourselves to assuming coeditorship of this issue under the guidance of Kathryn Schroeter, JTN editor. A variety of issues and topics were identified and all authors contacted readily and eagerly agreed to participate and write an article for publication-and for that we are very grateful.

 

This publication is a significant milestone in the continued evolution and development of the Pediatric SIG, which was started in 2002 by a group of 35 trauma nurses interested in children. Since that time, the Pediatric SIG has grown to more than 400 individuals, some pediatric nurses, but the vast majority are nurses who provide trauma care for kids. With the quick expansion of this group, it was quite evident that a pediatric steering committee needed to be developed so that strategic planning and coordination of activities could be efficiently accomplished. In 2007, 3 pediatric work groups were established: acute stress disorder/posttraumatic stress disorder (ASD/PTSD), screening and brief intervention and referral to treatment, and pediatric education. These work groups continue to seek interested individuals, with the efforts accomplished by conference call and a yearly meeting at the STN conference. Let us hear from you if you would like to expand your networking and further your pediatric trauma knowledge.

 

We are proud of the accomplishments of the Pediatric SIG; however, there continues to be much more that we can achieve. Do you want to work on a pediatric clinical issue? Do you want to work on pediatric education? Maybe you just want to network and learn more pediatric-specific information. Whatever you need, please get involved!! Visit the STN Web page http://www.traumanurse.org for information on various methods of participation.

 

We, as coeditors, thank you for this wonderful opportunity.