Children and young people
Children and young people’s nursing is underpinned by the understanding that children and young people have their own and differing needs to adults.
This field of practice believes that the nurse’s primary focus is to assist the child, young person and those caring for them to prevent, promote and support their physical and mental wellbeing. Ensuring a child and young person’s physical and mental health needs remain central to care provided enables children, young people and families to reach their full potential.
Children and young people's nursing encompasses care delivered in a wide range of settings including acute, education, hospice, community and youth justice settings. Children and young people’s nurses have a wide range of career options such as working in general and specialist acute wards, health visiting, school nursing, mental health nursing, neonatal nursing, looked after children and safeguarding nursing, as well as community nursing and specialist nurse roles. There are also non-clinical roles that many children and young people’s Nurses may decide to move into using their vast transferable skills such as commissioning and workforce planning. More information about children and young people’s nursing careers can be found here: .
The RCN also has a range of career resources that can be found on our Nursing Careers Resource.
I am a children's nurse
Related to overview of children and young people's nursing:
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Children and young people forums
This is a space for you to have professional discussions relevant to your field of practice. The group is for forum members only.
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08 Jul 2026
London
RCN Acute Care Symposium 2026
Save the date for the RCN Acute Care Symposium 2026! Join us in person to get the latest updates on current, evidence-based care when managing the acutely ill patient. Back by popular demand this one-day conference is brought to you in collaboration with several RCN forums. This event will offer delegates the opportunity to hear from leading experts on the challenges faced when recognising and managing the deteriorating patient. Be the first to know Register your interest to receive an email alert as soon as booking opens. Please note that conference fees apply and will be published in due course. Who should attend? This conference is aimed at all nurses working in the acute sector including students, Registered Nursing Associates and Health Care Support Workers working within the NHS and Independent health care sector. What our previous attendees told us. ‘Really enjoyed the day- fantastic day. Being face to face allows some good communication and talks’ ‘Very well organised! Loved every moment.’