Issues and purpose: To analyze ethical considerations for a child's involvement in research.
Conclusions: Pediatric research can proceed only when the welfare of children is protected. Although research with children as research subjects constitutes only a small portion of research efforts, its continual growth requires nurses be aware of the rights of pediatric subjects.
Practice implications: As nursing research increases in sophistication, the nurse should include an assessment of the informed consent process in the care of the patient, including the child's comprehension, the age and development of the child, and the child's perception of the research.