INTERNATIONAL PAEDIATRIC NURSING RESEARCH NETWORK
(IPNRN)
Neill S J,
Centre for
Healthcare Education, University College Northampton, UK
Objective:
To
explore the benefits of international networking in the field of paediatric
and child health nursing.
Context: A new network for
researchers in the field of paediatric nursing and child health nursing was
first proposed in April 2000 at an international child health conference in
Perth, Western Australia (Neill & Ramritu 2001). At that time two
thirds of all the delegates enthusiastically supported the concept.
Consequently a planning group was developed which, through the use of email
communication, planned the launch of this network at the Beijing conference
as it was felt this would be the best opportunity to announce the
initiative to the international community of children’s nurses.
Content: This paper will explore the benefits of developing a network
for nurses working with children and their families. Research nurses in the
field are often working in isolation, finding it difficult to access an
expert resource or to share their own experiences. Sharing such information
and expertise will enhance the quality of research, thus facilitating the
generation of the evidence base for practice. Such evidence, when
disseminated, has the potential to improve the quality of care for children
and their families. An analysis of the views 200 nurses concerning such
potential benefits has clearly demonstrated the professionals desires to
work across institutional and country boundaries in the joint endeavour of
the care of children and their family. Finally the paper will conclude with
an overview of progress made towards the formal launch.
Reference:
Neill S J & Ramritu P (2001) An
International Paediatric Nursing Research Network. Paediatric Nursing 12.
10. 8