Private practice of children’s nurses in France: A descriptive survey

The private practice of children’s nurses in France remains poorly documented, although it could contribute to early prevention and parental support during the first years of life. This study aims to describe their professional practices and their role within child healthcare pathways.

A national descriptive survey was conducted in 2024 among children’s nurses working in private practice, using an online questionnaire disseminated through professional networks. Data were analyzed using descriptive and thematic approaches.

Most children’s nurses in private practice are highly experienced professionals, focusing their activities on prevention and health education for children aged 0–6 years and their families. They provide individual consultations, but also implement innovative approaches such as group workshops and “parent circles,” which promote experience sharing and parental empowerment. Their interventions complement those of general practitioners, midwives, and maternal and child health services. Technical care is marginal, whereas psychosocial support and parental guidance are central. Motivations for private practice include professional autonomy and the desire to address unmet needs. However, the lack of public funding through national health insurance remains a major obstacle to the development and accessibility of this practice.

Private practice of children’s nurses represents an emerging resource to strengthen early prevention and complement the work of other primary care professionals. Better integration into coordinated care pathways, inspired by international models, could help consolidate public health policies in favor of early childhood and, potentially, adolescence.