Chapter 30: Pediatric Nursing Practice in Canada

Pediatric Nursing Practice in Canada details how the Canadian healthcare system is shifting from a treatment-focused model to one centered on health promotion and disease prevention, guided by the framework of the Ottawa Charter. Key health indicators are examined, noting that while mortality rates for children have significantly decreased over the past half-century, disparities remain stark for Indigenous communities, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children, due to systemic factors and social determinants like poverty, inadequate housing, and food insecurity. The text highlights the critical importance of maintaining high immunization coverage to prevent the resurgence of diseases like measles, while also addressing contemporary concerns such as antimicrobial resistance and the addictive nature of vaping among youth. Pediatric nurses are encouraged to adopt a strengths-based, family-centered care approach that empowers parents and recognizes them as the essential constant in a child’s life. This involves fostering therapeutic relationships with clear professional boundaries and implementing atraumatic care to minimize psychological and physical distress during medical interventions. The summary further delves into the impact of toxic stress and adverse childhood experiences on long-term development, stressing the need for resilience-building and mental health support. As advocates, pediatric nurses collaborate within interdisciplinary teams to address childhood injuries, violence, and mental health issues, ensuring that care is culturally competent and developmentally appropriate for every stage of childhood. Future trends point toward increased ambulatory and home-based care, necessitating nurses to be adaptable, independent, and deeply committed to the principles of equity and holistic child welfare.