APSNA position statement urges action on firearm safety
Pediatric nurses call for action to address leading cause of death among children and teens
SAGE
The American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association, Inc. (APSNA) has released a comprehensive position statement declaring firearm violence a public health crisis and outlining actionable steps to prevent firearm-related injuries and deaths among children and teens. Firearms are now the leading cause of death for pediatric patients aged 1–19 in the United States. APSNA calls for a public health approach to prevention, emphasizing the role of nurses in clinical screening, education, research, and advocacy.
Key recommendations include safe firearm storage, routine suicide screening for patients aged 12 and older, and support for legislation enforcing background checks, restricting high-risk firearm access, and funding firearm take-back programs. APSNA also opposes efforts to limit healthcare professionals from providing firearm safety counseling. This statement reflects APSNA’s commitment to protecting children and teens and underscores the critical role pediatric surgical nurses play in addressing this urgent issue.
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