Despite overwhelming evidence that many adult health conditions have their origins in childhood (Wadhwa et al., 2009), the evidence base for children's health care lags behind that which underpins health care for adults. This is not surprising since pediatrics as a specialty within nursing and medicine is not even 200 years old. In the 1800s, children represented 40% of the world's population and had a mortality rate of 50% in even the most developed countries (Corsini and Viazzo, 1993). Today, children (0–15 years) represent 26% of the world population and the mortality rate for children under five years of age worldwide is 5.1% (United Nations Children's Fund, 2012). Although huge disparities in mortality exist across the world, this dramatic decrease in mortality has occurred because of improved living conditions and access to health care (WHO, 2010). Children and adolescents are the most sensitive indicators for a society's wellbeing. Their health and wellbeing indicate our future (Aynsley-Green, 2007). Nursing has a vital part in the provision of health care for children and adolescents.