Pediatric Nurses Gather for Landmark Annual Conference

PITMAN, NJ – Celebrating the pediatric nurse at the bedside was the central theme of the 26th Annual Pediatric Nursing Conference, July 16-18, 2010, in Philadelphia, PA. More than 275 pediatric nurses from across the country and around the world attended this landmark annual event. Attendees networked with colleagues, enhanced leadership skills and explored the latest advances in care.

The conference, sponsored by Pediatric Nursing journal, was designed to appeal to pediatric nurses at all levels and featured four specialized tracks: Physical Assessment and Laboratory Interpretation, Evidence-Based Practice and Research, Leadership at the Point of Care, and Clinical Potpourri. Participants had the opportunity to focus their education or create their own program by attending sessions from different tracks. Topics included:

• Challenges and opportunities in autism spectrum disorders
• Recognizing pediatric fluid and electrolyte imbalances
• Attaining, maintaining and retaining ANCC Magnet Recognition
• The art and science of pediatric palliative care
• Engaging the bedside pediatric nurse in research
• Managing pediatric trauma
• Preventing RSV infection for infants at risk

On Friday, July 16, Donna Weaver, MN, RN, a nurse educator in the Education, Information, and Partnership Branch at the CDC, presented the Opening Session, "Updates on Immunizations and H1N1 Influenza." Weaver provided the latest recommendations for new and existing vaccines, including H1N1.

Esteemed nursing workforce researcher, Peter Buerhaus, PhD, RN, FAAN, delivered the Keynote Session, "The Great Recession and Beyond: Near- and Intermediate-Term Challenges Facing the Nursing Profession and What to Do About Them," on Saturday, July 17. Dr. Buerhaus presented the latest research on RN employment and earnings trends, as well as RNs' perception of the workplace climate.

Participants also attended special events, earned continuing nursing education contact hours, and visited with 30 hospitals, schools of nursing, pharmaceutical and medical supply companies, and other vendors in the exhibit hall. A special tour of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was also provided to all conference attendees.

Poster Award Winners
During the conference, attendees viewed research and clinical posters, and awards were presented in both categories.

Research Posters

• First Place: David Jack, PhD, RN, CPN, CNE, Thomas Jefferson School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA, "Investigation of the Effectiveness of a Violence Prevention Program on Reducing Self-Reported Acts of Aggressive Behaviors in Kindergarten-Aged Children"
• Second Place: Kyeha Kim, PhD, RN, Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea, "Experience of Cohabitation of Late Teenagers in Korea"
• Third Place: Asmaa Abdelaziz Mohamed Hussein, PhD, RN, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt, "Risk Factors of Protein Energy Malnutrition 'Kwashiorkor and Marasmus' Among Children Under Five Years of Age in Assiut University Children Hospital"

Clinical Posters

• First Place: Sheila Whelan, MSN, RN, CPN; Beverly Hansen, BSN, RN, CPN; Cheryl Hirokawa, BSN, RN; Patricia A. White, BSN, RN, CPN; Mei Lin Chen-Lim, BSN, RN, CCRC, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, "Pediatric Telephone Triage: There's No Place Like Home"
• Second Place: Karla Wentzel, BScN, RN, NP-Paeds; Linda Grobovsky; Francis Macapagal, BScN, RN, MN; Karima Karmali, The Hospital for Sick Children – NISN, Toronto, ON, Canada, "Every Child Matters: Improving Pediatric Care Through Cultural Competence"
• Third Place: Donna Roller, RN, CPN; Mary Beth Heller, MSN, RN-BC; Crystallein Egresits, RN, CPN; Jennifer Eby, BS, RN, CPN; Kimberly Martin, BSN, RN; Mary Bohenick, RN, PinnacleHealth System, Harrisburg, PA, "Stumbles and Tumbles Part II: Development of a Pediatric Fall Risk Assessment Scale"

Pediatric Nursing 2011 Conference
The 27th Annual Pediatric Nursing Conference will be held June 23-25, 2011, at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, Lake Buena Vista, FL. Oral abstracts on topics related to caring for pediatric patients are now being accepted. Those interested can view the Call for Oral Abstracts on the Pediatric Nursing home page.

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Pediatric Nursing is a clinically-based journal focusing on the needs of professionals in pediatric practice,
research, administration and education.