Pediatric Nursing Commons^™

Ask Me 3® In Action: Advancing Health Literacy In Pediatric Acute Care, Yaseming Medina

2026

This evidence-based practice project evaluated the implementation of the Ask Me 3® health literacy tool in a pediatric perioperative setting to improve caregiver understanding of medical information and communication with healthcare providers. Findings suggest that Ask Me 3® supports health literacy and caregiver engagement, while patient experience measures related to nurse communication, listening, and caregiver comfort improved following implementation.

Evidence-Based Pain Management Bundle For Pediatric Postoperative Orthopedic Patients, Samantha Firmstone

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Postoperative pain management in pediatric orthopedic patients is often inconsistent due to variability in provider practices and a lack of standardized protocols. At a Central Texas pediatric orthopedic clinic, all patients received opioid prescriptions post-knee surgery regardless of procedure severity, leading to frequent caregiver calls for clarification. This practice revealed a critical gap in preoperative education and multimodal pain management strategies, contributing to patient safety concerns and increased clinic workload.

Aim of the Project: The primary aim of the project was to improve pain control, reduce opioid reliance, and decrease postoperative pain-related follow-up calls by implementing a standardized, evidence-based …

Effectiveness Of Music Therapy In Managing Pain And Anxiety In Pediatric Burn Patients Compared To Traditional Methods Alone, Alejandro Miguel Santos, Maekalagail Santos

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Introduction:

Burn injuries are among the most painful conditions for children. While pharmacological interventions are commonly used, non-pharmacological strategies like music therapy are gaining attention for their potential to improve patient outcomes. Previous research indicates that music therapy can reduce pain and anxiety in various settings, but its impact on pediatric burn patients remains underexplored.

Objective:

This study aims to explore the effectiveness of music therapy in managing pain and anxiety in pediatric burn patients, comparing it to traditional pain management methods alone.

Research Question:

Does music therapy affect pain and anxiety in pediatric burn unit patients when added to …

Implementation Of A Code Lobby Surge And The Impact On Left Without Being Seen Rates, Nicole Plouffe

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Crowding of emergency departments contribute to higher-than-average left without being seen (LWBS) rates. LWBS patients pose risks to the hospital as well as to one’s own health.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was in a pediatric emergency department (P), does implementation of a “Code Lobby Surge” (I), compared to standard care (C), decrease left without being seen rates (O) within eight weeks (T)?

Evidence: Surge interventions and decreasing the visual of crowding have shown to decrease LWBS rates.

Intervention: “Code Lobby Surge” was implemented to decrease LWBS rates and improve throughput within the …

Unplugging: An Evidence-Based Project To Reduce Screen Time And Improve Healthy Media Use In The Adolescent Population, Erica Persichetti

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Abstract

Background:Excessive media use is an emerging health concern amongst the pediatric population. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends less than 2 hours per day of recreational screen time, yet the national average is between 7 to 9 hours per day for adolescents. A media-saturated lifestyle has consequences on a child’s mental, physical, and emotional health. Despite guidelines stating media use should be assessed at annual well-visits, only 16% of providers are following this recommendation. This gap in care leaves many families with a limited understanding of the impact of media on their child's health and represents a …

Failure-To-Rescue Simulations As A Risk Management Strategy For Registered Nurses, Trena K. Seago

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

In the hospital setting, prevention of failure-to-rescue (FTR) events is an important aspect of patient safety. The use of patient simulation as a strategy to educate nurses on the prevention of these events offers two modes of learning: 1) experiential learning through simulation and 2) reflection through debriefing. The act of practicing to recognize a deteriorating patient through experiential learning and reflection may help increase nurses’ self-efficacy in recognizing a similar situation in their future practice. This quasi-experimental, one-group, pretest-posttest pilot study investigated the use of patient simulation among registered nurses (RNs) in the hospital setting as an anticipatory educational …

Screening Amblyopic Risk Factors In A Pediatric Population Using An Automated Vision Screener, Rebecca Dawn Slominski

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Amblyopia is the most common visual disorder in children and is potentially curable if detected early and treated properly in the first few years of life. Amblyopia is the leading cause of monocular vision loss in children (Bradfield, 2013). It is a developmental neuroplasticity which derives from birth causing structural and functional changes in the eye and brain. With this structural and functional disruption, visual blur occurs due to refractive amblyopia, strabismic amblyopia, cataracts (form-deprivation amblyopia), or a combination of any of these (Solebo, Cumberland, & Rahi, 2015). Refractive errors related to amblyopia can also occur. The purpose of this …

Sun Prevention Fun (Spf): A Multicomponent Sun Prevention Program For Children In Kindergarten And First Grade, Sarah Gouker

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Skin cancer is an important topic in the United States due to the recent increase in cost and mortality. The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to determine if the early implementation of a multicomponent sun prevention program positively impacted kindergarten and first grade students’ knowledge and behavioral intentions to practice safe sun techniques after a one week period. Kotter’s Model of Change and the ACE Star model were utilized to guide this EBP project. An exhaustive review of the literature yielded 12 articles which were used to develop best practices for education on sun safety. The quality …

What’S In A Name: Performance Improvement, Evidence-Based Practice, And Research?, Andrea Prentiss, Eve Butler

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Outpatient Care: The Effect Of A Standardized Collaborative Medication Reconciliation Process, Traci R. Pulliam

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Pediatric patients are at an increased risk for medication errors and can benefit from processes that facilitate and promote medication safety (Stone et al., 2010). Medication reconciliation (Med Rec) is a valuable tool in improving patients’ medication safety and reducing adverse drug events (The Joint Commission, 2015). The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to improve the accuracy of the Med Rec process in a Midwestern pediatric hematology/oncology outpatient clinic by developing, promoting, and evaluating a standardized, collaborative Med Rec process. The Stetler EBP model guided the implementation of the intervention, with the goal of integrating current evidence …

Effects Of Pediatric Emergence Delirium Education On Analgesic Administration By Pacu Nurses, Melinda C. Nwanganga

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Emergence delirium (ED) is a behavioral disturbance as a result of general anesthesia that commonly occurs in pediatric patients. Adverse effects of ED lead to a complicated recovery from anesthesia due to the risk of self-inflicted injury of patients, the disturbance of surgical incisions, the development of postoperative maladaptive behaviors, and the increased use of sedatives and analgesics resulting in prolonged recovery time and delayed discharge from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Due to the multiple ramifications of ED, appropriate care is needed to promote a safe recovery from anesthesia and an optimum perioperative experience for these patients. As PACU …

Effects Of Multimodal Fever Education On Parents Of Febrile Children, Teresa S. Parkhouse

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Insufficient knowledge regarding the physiology and appropriate management of fever in children often contributes to an increased parental anxiety, inappropriate antipyretic use, and overutilization of medical resources (Chang, Liu, & Huang, 2013; Crocetti, Moghbeli, & Serwint, 2001; Schmitt, 1980). Parental concerns regarding childhood fever can lead to an overuse of health care resources as febrile illness in children accounts for approximately 20% of emergency department visits, 30% of office visits, and over 50% of after-hour phone calls to private physicians (Zomorrodi & Attia, 2008). Research shows that multidimensional educational interventions are most effective in improving parental management of fever (Young …

The Effects Of An Evidence-Based Food Allergy Management Plan To Keep Children With Food Allergies Safe At School, Scarlet R. Spain

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

The prevalence of food allergies in children has increased 18% between 1997 and 2007 (CDC, 2013). Furthermore, 84% of food allergic children will experience a reaction at school (Powers, Bergren, & Finnegan, 2007). An exposure in a sensitive child may progress quickly into potentially life threatening symptoms and death if not treated. The purpose of this evidence based practice (EBP) project was to determine if implementation of a food allergy management policy in a school setting reduced overall incidence rates of food allergy reactions in school children and to examine compliance to policy guidelines. The project encompassed implementation of a …

Effects Of A School-Based Education Intervention On Bmi And Physical Activity, Lauren M. Panner

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

In 2011, the CDC reported that there are 12.5 million obese children and adolescents living in the United States (U.S.). The financial burden of childhood obesity in the U.S. is estimated to be 14 billion dollars. The objective of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to answer the question: In school-aged children, how does school-based, structured, family-oriented physical activity education affect body mass index (BMI) compared to usual education over an eight week time period? The Stetler Model of EBP and the health belief model were used to guide this project in a rural, Northwest Indiana elementary school. For eight …