Pediatric Nurse Practitioners' Perceptions of Practices and Needs in Identifying Communication Disorders in Young Children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine how certified pediatric nurse practitioners (CPNP) identify children with possible speech and language problems, their perceived confidence in this process, and their perceptions of the adequacy of their pre-professional and professional education experiences preparing them to identify speech and language disorders. CPNPs serving pediatric patients under the age of 18 were surveyed on their current practices, perceptions, and future recommendations for identifying speech and language disorders during the well-child visit. Survey responses were collected from CPNPs currently practicing within the Cook Children's Health Care System. Results from survey respondents showed inconsistencies in the current practice of CPNPs' identification of possible speech and language disorders in young children across clinical sites. CPNPs identified specific barriers to the identification process such as time, parents, and clinical population. CPNPs recommended further education and professional resources to support their screening process. Findings are discussed in terms of needs for further study and recommendations for enhancing interprofessional speech-language pathologists-nurse practitioner collaboration.