The Dutch Association of Paediatric Nurses is a leading national Nursing Association. Our goal is to promote excellence in the field of paediatric nursing care in Holland and to exchange information and knowledge with other professionals working with children as well as other Paediatric Associations internationally.

History
The Dutch Association of Paediatric Nurses (V&VN paediatric nursing) was founded in 1994 and started off with a few highly committed members of various working-groups occupied with the nursing care of children.
The objective of each group was aimed towards a specific area concerning all paediatric nursing care (infants through young adults) and all topics concerning paediatric nurses. This included registration and education.
V&VN paediatric nursing is presently one of Holland’s largest Nursing Associations counting approximately 1800 members.
The association has not only become a strong voice for Dutch paediatric nurses who work in hospitals but also plays an extensive role in general child health policy and is closely linked with several other national nursing groups, parent support groups and the Dutch Medical Paediatric Association.
In 1998 when the International Paediatric Association (IPA) held their 22nd international Congress on Paediatrics ‘’From Grass Roots To Genes“ in Amsterdam, Holland, the nursing association had the opportunity to host the ‘’First International Congress on Paediatric Nursing’’ where with support of our British colleagues ‘’The birth of the International Association of Paediatric Nurses‘’ (IAPN) took place.
In 2003 IAPN members from Europe decided to work together and formed the Paediatric Nurses Association of Europe (PNAE).

Objectives
Goals of the association on national level are:
- Support paediatric nurses to keep developing new standards of quality care within the paediatric field;
- Participate in committees involved with quality control in post graduate paediatric nursing education;
- Registration and re-registration of Dutch paediatric nurses and registration of paediatric nurses educated outside the Netherlands: see Registration as paediatric nurse in the Netherlands;
- Develop standards and protocols concerning paediatric nursing issues in Holland;
- Support, promote and participate in research on paediatric nursing;
- Stimulate evidence based practice;
- Promote professional and educational advancement of paediatric nurses through symposia;
- Support and strengthen the position of the paediatric nurses on a political level;
- Increase public awareness and understanding of the specialty through other organizations;
- Give requested and at times unrequested advice about activities concerning nursing care to children and their families;
- Promote a close link between all professionals in a multidisciplinary setting to improve patient centered care.

Goals of the association on international level are:
- Working within the PNAE establishing standards of practice and guidelines for paediatric nurses across Europe;
- Raising a profile of paediatric nurses in Europe for the benefit of patient care;
- Working within the IAPN on international congresses together with the IPA.

Our members receive:
- A journal on Pediatric nursing, quarterly;
- Published standards of practice on request.

For more information please send an email to:
infokinderverpleegkunde@venvn.nl