The History of Pediatric Nursing

Pediatric nursing involves taking the responsibility of care for children, youth, and families throughout the lifespan (Taylor, 2006). This task includes health promotion, illness care, health restoration, and rehabilitation. Pediatric nursing requires understanding the developmental aspects of children and the physical differences between children and adults (Taylor, 2006). Pediatric nurses must also recognize the role that families play in the child’s health and reflect family-centered care in practice (Taylor, 2006).

Pediatric nursing did not develop as a specialty in the United States until the nineteenth century. Before this time, children received very little healthcare. In fact, only the wealthy families that could afford to travel into cities received medical attention. Most children were cared for at home by family members or neighbors using folk medicine (Hockenberry, Wilson, and Winkelstein, 2005). During this time epidemics were common and some prevalent diseases included measles, mumps, smallpox, cholera, and whooping cough (Hockenberry, et.al.).

The study of pediatrics began in the 1800’s under the influence of Abraham Jacobi (Hockenberry, et.al.). Jacobi (1830-1919), a Prussian-born physician is referred to as the “Father of Pediatrics” because of his achievements during this time period. (Hockenberry, et.al.). One important accomplishment of Jacobi’s was established “milk stations” where mothers of sick infants could bring the child to learn about cleansing and proper storage of cow’s milk (Hockenberry, et.al.). Jacobi later went on to open a children’s clinic in the New York Medical College and it was largely because of Jacobi that pediatrics became a separate discipline from obstetrics (Pearson, 2006).

Since that time pediatric nursing has greatly advanced. The first children’s hospital in the United States opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1855 with the purpose to decrease childhood mortality rates through research (Taylor, 2006). The hospital integrated a pharmacy and home health care. Other hospitals for children opened shortly after in some major United States cities during the nineteenth century. Some include Boston (1869), the District of Columbia and New York (1970), San Francisco and Albany, New York (1875), Detroit (1877), and St. Louis (1879) (Taylor, 2006). Unfortunately, hospitals during this time would not admit patients with communicable diseases because of the mortality rates. It is believed to be schools of nursing that enabled hospitals to accept these patients. With the addition of student nurses enough staff was available to provide care for these patients and their families (Taylor, 2006).
Nurses, among other professionals, began to lobby for federal support to improve health care for children. One of the most important changes was the initiation of the Sheppard-Towner Act of 1921 that provided federal money for maternal-child health care. It also resulted in positions for nurses in infant welfare centers and education classes for nurse midwives, mothers, and mother’s helpers (Taylor, 2006).

The specialty of pediatrics continued to grow throughout the century resulting in advanced practice including pediatric nurse practitioners. Some of the problems of the eighteenth century such as lack of funds and staffing are still apparent today. However, pediatric nurses still provide the continuity of care needed to decrease morbidity and mortality in children by providing family-centered care.

Authored by Jennifer Hartley

References:

Hockenberry, M., Wilson, D., Winkelstein, M. (2005). Essentials of pediatric nursing (7th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby, Inc.

Taylor, M. (2006). Mapping the literature of pediatric nursing. Journal of the Medical Library Association 94(2), 128-136. Retrieved June 18, 2007 from http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender/fcgi?artid=1463034

Pearson, H. ( 2006). The 75th anniversary of the american academy of pediatrics. Pediatrics 117(5), 1759-2716. Retrieved June 19, 2007 from http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/117/5/1759