Three pediatric education sessions at Emergency Nursing 2025 spotlight the mix of urgency, confidence and clinical clarity required for treating children in today’s emergency departments. From pharmacologic precision to systemic infrastructure and bedside empowerment, the sessions offer actionable insights for emergency nurses whether they specialize in pediatrics or find themselves unexpectedly caring for young patients.
Shake it Off: Pediatric Seizure Assessment and Management in the Nonpediatric Specialty ED | Sept. 18, 3:30-4 p.m.
Tamara Elliott, BSN, RN, TCRN
Tamara Elliott, BSN, RN, TCRN, invites nurses to lean into the intensity of pediatric seizure presentations with a mindset shift that encourages confident, early intervention. In her session, “Shake it Off: Pediatric Seizure Assessment and Management in the Nonpediatric Specialty ED,” Elliott underscores the nuanced signs that are often missed.
“Some seizures don’t look like seizures at all,” she noted.
Elliott emphasizes that nurses, regardless of their EDs’ typical patient population, can and should facilitate treatment with confidence. She provides straightforward approaches to symptom recognition that reduce reliance on consults or may otherwise result in delays. She also challenges lingering myths around fevers related to seizures and pharmacologic hesitation, sharing how benzodiazepines can be safely used in full weight-based doses.
“This session is about giving nurses a framework to act with clarity and not fear, even in nonpediatric EDs,” Elliott added.
Michelle Moegling, MBA-HM, BSN, CPN, RN
Keep Calm and Be Ready: Pediatric Readiness in Action | Sept. 19, 4-4:45 p.m.
Michelle Moegling, MBA-HM, BSN, CPN, RN, dives into systemic readiness for pediatric emergencies with a data-driven and human-centered approach. In her session, “Keep Calm and Be Ready: Pediatric Readiness in Action,” she examines the impact of the Pediatric Readiness Project (NPRP), noting higher readiness scores are associated with up to a 76 percent reduction in mortality.
“It’s about taking stock of what’s there, what’s missing and how to get there before a crisis hits,” Moegling explained.
She urges nurses to translate readiness scores into real-world momentum and be prepared for the unexpected. Moegling emphasizes the importance of readiness scores in guiding resource allocation, staff education and cross-disciplinary coordination. She challenges teams to act before a disaster happens, aligning protocols and resources while time is still on their side. The session takes stock of current realities, identifies gaps, and plans for improvements before crises occur.
Not a Peds Nurse – Transforming Care Approach for Pediatric Patients in the General ED Setting | Sept. 18, 5:15-6:15 p.m.
Savannah Perschke, MS, RN, CPEN, SANE-A, SANE-P, addresses the hesitation among nurses who do not regularly treat children, acknowledging how anxiety and lack of training can impact care. In her session, “‘Not a Peds Nurse’ — Transforming Care Approach for Pediatric Patients in the General ED Setting,” Perschke shares practical tips and tricks based on specific clinical knowledge that empowers nurses and that are usable regardless of location, equipment or budget.
Savannah Perschke, MS, RN, CPEN, SANE-A, SANE-P
Perschke emphasizes pediatric emergency nursing is a specialty and general ED nurses can benefit from actionable, real-world knowledge to feel more confident in the moment.
“Pediatric patients are not small adults, but there’s no reason to be afraid to care for them,” she explained. “I want to share some tools to make pediatric nursing approachable, so nurses are not hesitant to take care of children and hopefully feel more comfortable about it.”
Perschke encourages nurses to shift their approach when caring for pediatric patients and embrace its emotional rewards.
“If you go into it with the mindset that when caring for a child you are just there to help them smile again or play again, it should make pediatric nursing less scary and more approachable,” she said.
According to Perschke, the session is crafted for a wide range of attendees. While the presentation includes foundational information for nurses who don’t routinely work with children, she emphasized that even seasoned pediatric professionals should walk away with something fresh.
Together, these three sessions offer Emergency Nursing 2025 attendees a blueprint for improving pediatric care regardless of setting or specialty. Whether streamlining seizure protocols, evaluating systemwide infrastructure or empowering nurses in unfamiliar territory, each session reflects the forward-thinking, data-driven ethos of the broader conference.