- Grace Wade
- Summer 2026
Faculty instructor: Professor Sharna Aaen Clark
Abstract
Childhood immunizations are among the most effective strategies for preventing vaccine-preventable diseases; however, vaccine hesitancy continues to contribute to delayed or missed immunizations. Communication between healthcare providers and parents plays an important role in building vaccine confidence and supporting informed decision-making. The purpose of this practicum project was to synthesize current evidence-based communication strategies that pediatric nurses can use to build vaccine confidence among vaccine-hesitant parents. An evidence synthesis was conducted using eight peer-reviewed articles published between 2020 and 2025, including systematic and narrative reviews, intervention studies, clinician training research, and evidence-based guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Informal stakeholder interviews were also conducted with a pediatric registered nurse, pediatrician, pediatric nurse practitioner, and clinic manager to compare the literature with current clinical practice. Findings from the literature and stakeholder interviews consistently identified three key communication strategies: building trust through empathetic communication, providing clear and confident vaccine recommendations, and using motivational interviewing to support collaborative conversations with families. These findings were translated into a one-page educational infographic designed to provide pediatric nurses with practical communication strategies for vaccine discussions. Pediatric nurses should incorporate evidence-based communication strategies into routine vaccine discussions to strengthen nurse-family relationships, improve vaccine confidence, and support informed decision-making among parents.
Keywords: vaccine confidence; vaccine hesitancy; pediatric nursing; childhood immunization; motivational interviewing; evidence-based communication.