Vaccination is an important aspect in a child’s growth and a PNP is required to issue it in a correct manner. A PNP may refuse vaccines due to time constraints, insufficient resources, lack of enough training and knowledge, or other risk factors. This essay is going to discuss the key points that a PNP should know about refusing vaccines.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (PNPs) are nurses who provide high quality and compassionate care to children from birth to the age of 21. Among the services provided by PNPs include childhood immunizations, developmental screening, and treatment of common illness. While issuing vaccines, however, PNPs should also be aware about key reasons for refusing vaccines. In the first place, lack of enough knowledge about a given vaccine may cause a parent or guardian to turn down a given vaccine ( Aruda et al., 2016 ). This may include lack of enough knowledge on how the vaccine is administered and how it functions can be a limiting factor.
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Limited access to resources is another key factor that may cause a patient to reconsider the child getting vaccinated. The healthcare institution around the PNP could lack enough resources like referral materials or effective consultation team. A PNP should therefore be in a good position to access sufficient resources either in the form of human labor or actual vaccines to help encourage mothers/caregivers to allow their children in receiving vaccines.
Culture and religion also have a significant impact on client’s decision when it comes to receiving vaccine. The PNP should therefore consider learning more about other culture and religious belief in order to handle such clients more effectively ( Kyle & Carman, 2017) .
Lastly, the impact of risk against its benefits can influence a parent’s choice in refusing a vaccine. PNPs are always expected to weigh the risks that could develop before issuing a vaccine especially if the vaccine has been newly introduced ( Betz, 2017 ). PNPs can always issue an alternative vaccine in case they think that the existing one could have risk issues to the child.
Generally speaking, PNPs are responsible for taking care of children from birth up to the age of 21 years by providing vaccinations as well as treating common illness. However, clients can at times refuse vaccines due to lack of insufficient knowledge about the vaccine and its benefits. Other reasons may include culture or even religions reasons..
References
Aruda, M. M., Griffin, V. J., Schartz, K., & Geist, M. (February 01, 2016). Evolving role of pediatric nurse practitioners. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 28, 2, 68-74.
Kyle, T., & Carman, S. (2017). Essentials of pediatric nursing .
Betz, C. L. (2017). An Integral Component of Pediatric Nursing Practice. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 36.
