delete_and_replace.py

import bpy
import itertools

node_tree = bpy.data.materials['Material'].node_tree
node = node_tree.nodes['Mapping']

def store_replace(node_tree, node):

    props_to_copy = 'bl_idname name location height width'.split(' ')

    reconnections = []
    mappings = itertools.chain.from_iterable([node.inputs, node.outputs])
    for i in (i for i in mappings if i.is_linked):
        for L in i.links:
            reconnections.append([L.from_socket.path_from_id(), L.to_socket.path_from_id()])

    props = {j: getattr(node, j) for j in props_to_copy}

    new_node = node_tree.nodes.new(props['bl_idname'])
    props_to_copy.pop(0)
    
    for prop in props_to_copy:
        setattr(new_node, prop, props[prop])

    nodes = node_tree.nodes
    nodes.remove(node)
    new_node.name = props['name']
        
    for str_from, str_to in reconnections:
        node_tree.links.new(eval(str_from), eval(str_to))

store_replace(node_tree, node)