Pediatric care in the emergency department is shaped as much by environment, communication and system design as it is by clinical skill, a theme woven throughout this year’s pediatric sessions at Emergency Nursing 2026. Together, these presentations highlight the often overlooked elements that help nurses deliver calmer, safer and more confident care to children and their families.
Supporting Neurodivergent Pediatric Patients in the ED
Sept. 29, 9:45-10 a.m.
Sara Daykin, DNP, MSN, RN, CNEcl, CPEN, TCRN, FAEN
The session “Supporting Neurodivergent Pediatric Patients in the ED,” will be led by longtime pediatric emergency nurse and educator Sara Daykin, DNP, MSN, RN, CNEcl, CPEN, TCRN, FAEN. After more than two decades at the bedside, Daykin has seen how quickly sensory overload and rushed workflows can escalate distress. She notes neurodivergent patients aren’t “being difficult.” Rather, they’re trying to participate in their care while navigating bright lights, unfamiliar sounds and rapid‑fire communication, according to Daykin.
“More and more people are being diagnosed,” she said. “We need to take our time and support them.”
Daykin’s session focuses on small, real‑time adjustments that can transform a child’s experience and make care smoother for nurses. These include dimming lights, offering sensory‑friendly supplies and slowing the pace of interaction. Many of these strategies, she adds, benefit all pediatric patients, not just those with neurodivergent tendencies. Attendees can expect practical tools they can use immediately to create more comfortable, cooperative encounters.
Calm, Cool and Comforted: The Power of Emotional Support in Pediatric Emergencies
Sept. 30, 1:45-2:30 p.m.
Courtney Williams Simmons, MSN, RN, CPEN, TCRN, NPD-BC, CEN
From sensory needs to emotional safety, the session “Calm, Cool and Comforted: The Power of Emotional Support in Pediatric Emergencies” shifts attention to how to calm a distressed child before care begins. Courtney Williams Simmons, MSN, RN, CPEN, TCRN, NPD-BC, CEN, brings her clinical and education background to a topic nurses often struggle with: helping children feel safe enough to cooperate with emergency care. Emotional support, she argues, is not a soft add‑on. It is a critical part of pediatric readiness.
Her session will highlight practical ways to front‑load comfort, build trust early, and reduce fear through small adjustments in environment and approach. Simmons challenges the misconception that “they’re going to cry anyway,” noting even if a child does cry, “there are things we can do to make that better.” Through real‑world scenarios, attendees will talk through peer‑tested calming techniques and share what has worked for them at the bedside.
“Putting in that effort at the forefront … is going to in the long run speed things up,” Simmons said. “People have such inventive ways of helping kids feel safe.”
PECC Principles to Practice: Advancing Pediatric Readiness by Building Systems, Skills and Confidence
Sept. 29, 12:30-3:15 p.m.
The session “PECC Principles to Practice: Advancing Pediatric Readiness by Building Systems, Skills and Confidence” expands the lens from individual encounters to department‑wide readiness. Robin Goodman, MSN, RN, CPEN, and co‑presenters Megan Petrucelli, MSN, RN, NRP, CEN, CPEN, EMS-I, and Laura Garcia, RN, bring deep experience supporting pediatric emergency care coordinators across community EDs. Their workshop addresses a challenge many nurses know well: PECCs are essential to pediatric readiness, yet most receive little to no training.
“They’re often volun-told they’re doing this role,” Goodman said.
Robin Goodman, MSN, RN, CPEN
The session blends didactic teaching, small‑group discussion and hands‑on activities designed to help nurses build readiness teams, secure leadership buy‑in and integrate pediatric readiness frameworks into daily workflows. Goodman emphasizes starting small with manageable steps and build momentum without overwhelming PECCs. She hopes participants leave with confidence, clarity and a sense of community.
“We want them to feel secure in their priorities, why they want to be a PECC and how they’re going to improve care for kids in their facility,” Goodman said.
Taken together, these three sessions offer a comprehensive look at pediatric care beyond anatomy and physiology. They highlight the sensory, emotional and structural elements that shape a child’s experience in the ED, and the nurse’s ability to deliver effective, compassionate care. Whether you want bedside strategies for neurodivergent patients, practical ways to comfort distressed children, or guidance for strengthening pediatric readiness across your department, the pediatric track at Emergency Nursing 2026 offers insight you can use right away.