The role and relationships developed by community children’s nurses with families at home enable a more family-centered approach than is practiced in hospital, as Joan Taylor explains

As a community children’s nurse (CCN), I have found that many parents are willing and capable of participating in the care of their sick child. CCN teams aim to reduce the length of stay in hospital for children and, where possible, reduce or prevent re-admission to hospital. We endeavour to educate and empower the child and family to have greater control and independence in the management of their own nursing needs.