Holland

Dutch Association of Paediatric Nurses (VVKV)

The Dutch Association of Paediatric Nurses (VVKV) is a leading national nursing association. Its 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 with other paediatric associations internationally.

The Dutch Association of Paediatric Nurses 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 to young adults) and all topics concerning paediatric nurses. This included registration and education.

The VVKV is presently one of Holland’s largest nursing associations, counting approximately 1800 members.

The association has become a strong voice for Dutch paediatric nurses who work in hospitals and plays an extensive role in general child health policy. It is closely linked with several other national nursing groups, parent support groups and the Dutch Medical Paediatric Association.

Objectives

Goals of the association on a national level are to:

Support paediatric nurses to keep developing new standards of quality care within the paediatric field.
Participate in committees involved with quality control in postgraduate paediatric nursing education.
Register Dutch paediatric nurses and paediatric nurses educated outside 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 organisations.
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-centred care.

Goals of the association on an international level are to:

Work within the PNAE establishing standards of practice and guidelines for paediatric nurses across Europe.
Raise a profile of paediatric nurses in Europe for the benefit of patient care.
Work within the IAPN on international congresses together with the IPA.

The association’s members receive: