PNPs as catalysts in child care policymaking.

Dramatic socioeconomic changes in American family life, along with welfare reform, school readiness initiatives, and research on the relationship between child development and child care, have generated new interest in child care policy. Pediatric nurse practitioners and other pediatric nurses have much to contribute to the formulation of national, state, and local child care policies, especially if they are knowledgeable of key policies and regulatory issues. This article outlines these concepts with an eye toward promoting how pediatric nurses might reclaim their role as catalysts for promoting high-quality child care.