Pediatric Nursing Commons^™

Ironing Out The Details: Early Detection And Treatment Of Iron Deficiency In A Level 4 Nicu, Rachel Mills

2024

EBP

Practice Problem: In a level 4 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), no standardized method existed for identifying and treating iron deficiency (ID) in preterm or low birth weight (LBW) infants. Common practice was to adjust iron supplementation based on hematocrit levels, though this was not based on any formal protocol or guideline. ID of the brain in neonates may be associated with neurologic and developmental deficits. Thus, it is prudent to identify and treat early. In a recent survey, providers reported a lack of familiarity with biomarkers for early identification of ID.

Literature/Evidence: A comprehensive review of the literature …

Ready, Set, Code! Investigating The Use Of Two Standardized Resuscitation Algorithms To Improve Outcomes In Patients In A Level 4 Nicu, Lauren Ayala, Grace Farina, Shelby Hudson, Anna Nguyen, Mireya Ortiz, Luke Wuesthoff

2024

EBP

Background:
Resuscitation efforts can be challenging in a Level IV NICU. Most Heath Care Providers in pediatric hospitals are Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certified. Some NICU providers are certified in both Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) & PALS. There is concern regarding use of NRP vs PALS for Level IV NICU patients who are up to one year of age. Strategies need to be identified to assist nurses in determining which resuscitation algorithm (PALS or NRP) to utilize during a code/peri-arrest event involving patients in a Level IV NICU.

PICO:
Will designing a resuscitation tool improve outcomes and effectiveness …

Partnering Up To Prevent Pediatric Peripheral Intravenous Infiltration, Melissa Ruffini, Ashlyn Coenraad, Rachael Burris-Alcala, Victoria Washington, Emily Jordan Ressman, Alexandra Birely

2024

QUALITY

Background: Peripheral Intravenous Infiltrations and Extravasations (PIVIE) occur in up to 78% of peripheral IVs (PIVs) in some pediatric studies. Proper site assessment is essential in preventing patient harm from PIVIEs, with hourly nursing assessments considered best practice for patients receiving continuous infusions. Many nurses work 12-hour shifts, and evidence suggests that inattentional blindness and cognitive bias can contribute to failure to notice physiologic differences in patient assessments over time. To address this challenge and ensure early identification of symptoms, the local project team proposed an innovative ‘buddy check’ approach to minimize patient harm.

Methods: This quality improvement project …

Standardization Of Adult Transition Across Ambulatory, Virginia Vecchio, Monica Fuller

2024

QUALITY

Background:

Historically, at Children’s Health initiatives involving patient transition to adult care have been focused on the clinics which are ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals. Other clinics had no process for transition and were unaware of available resources.

Purpose:

A subgroup from the Ambulatory Clinical Practice Council identified the need for a standardized framework and EPIC documentation that every clinic could utilize.

Methodology:

The Office of Patient Transition (OPT) was onboard with revamping the current program and allowing nurses to drive the changes. A knowledge assessment was performed with nurses in 2022. The results …

Collaboration Is Key: Engaging A Multidisciplinary And Multi-Departmental Team To Create Clinical Practice Guidelines (Cpg) Within A Level Iv Nicu, Rebecca Palmer, Sushmita Yallapragada, Jeanne Gaines, Jerithea Tidwell, Kymeyone Lanehart, Charmaine Shaw

2024

INNOVATION

Background
Within a Level IV collaboration between different disciplines and departments is needed to provide care delivery that is effective and efficient. Emergent situations arise that require care to be provided quickly, including patients with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and/or require bedside surgery. Upon review, multiple inconsistencies and inefficiencies were identified in these processes.

Implementation
Utilizing Lean and Quality Improvement methodology, CPGs were created for both necrotizing enterocolitis and bedside surgery. The steps taken in creation of these CPG include:
 • Identification of key stakeholders of all departments, including neonatology, surgery, and anesthesia
 • Evaluation of the Sepsis CPG to …

Residency Resources To The Rescue!, Jill Hesler, Martha Shaw

2024

INNOVATION

Collaboration and communication between residency facilitators and residency coordinators is imperative to overall nurse residency program and individual resident success. Increased cohort sizes and the lasting impact of a global pandemic to academia continued to contribute to a noticeable trend in nurse residents’ failure to progress. Failure to progress is defined as an inability to move forward during unit level orientation. Signs of failure to progress may include inability to perform new tasks or tasks previously completed, lack of interest in new opportunities, and anxiety disproportionate to the situation. This upward trend was made evident by an increase in …

Caring For Manes: Creating Diverse Hair Care Guidelines For A Large Pediatric Hospital, Jeri Tidwell, Tiffany Montgomery, Phyllis Carter-Riles, Victoria Washington, Kym Lanehart, Jesse Leos

2024

QUALITY

Background
Hair care products should be available to all patients regardless of hair type and texture. Recent movements like the Crown Project sparked pediatric hospitals across the country to focus efforts on ensuring hair care equity for their patients. Children’s health joined the movement by sanctioning a multidisciplinary, multidepartment task force to address BIPOC hair concerns. A smaller group was tasked with aligning practices and policies to address the gaps in education and resources available to assist nurses in caring for ethnic hair.

Methodology
Review of literature was conducted. Limited published work was found. The workgroup benchmarked and consulted …

A Methodical And Multidisciplinary Approach To Reducing Unplanned Extubationin A Level Iv Nicu, Rebecca Palmer, Ashley Reed, Reed Graham, Nimrod Otieno, Veronica Contreras, Jeanne Gaines, Jerithea Tidwell, Alice Figueroa, Travis Reynolds, Syed Ahmed, Sushmita Yallapragada

2024

QUALITY

Background: Unplanned extubations (UE) in neonates can result in severe consequences such as airway obstruction, hypoxia, respiratory distress, and even death. It is crucial to prevent UEs to maintain stable breathing, minimize the need for reintubation, and improve outcomes for neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The multidisciplinary NICU UE team has been working to prevent UEs since 2017. After an increase in 2022, the team conducted an evaluation to identify potential gaps and discovered over 50% of patients were not being reintubated post-event. Identified factors that contributed to UE events were: infants with weight < 4 kilograms; unadjusted high endotracheal tubes (ETT) per x-ray; inadequate sedation; lack of extubation readiness trial; and inadequate taping of the ETT. In 2022, our UE rate spiked to 0.50 UEs/100 vent days which prompted our multidisciplinary team to reinvigorate our work.

Methodology: A …

Development Of Ecls Transport Checklist, Laura Hatton, Lakshmi Raman, Donna Taylor, Margarita Ramos

2024

QUALITY

Purpose: To develop a tool that will prevent complications related to transporting patients on ECLS thereby improving positive outcomes.

Background: In 2021, a patient on ECLS was transported from the unit to acquire imaging. The usual practice was to obtain an X-ray to confirm cannula placement after a transport. However, the X-ray was not obtained when the patient got back to the unit and unbeknownst to the team, the patient’s cannula had significantly moved despite visualization of intact sutures. The change in cannula position was not discovered until the morning X-ray that was taken several hours later. When the …

Cease The Alarms: A Nurse-Led Bundled Approach To Alarm Management, Annie Tolliver

2024

EBP

Practice Problem:The use of audible alarms to monitor pediatric patients is crucial to patient care. Alarms notify nurses of potentially life-threatening situations. However, increasing non-actionable alarms can cause desensitization. This leads to ignoring and mismanaging alarms, ultimately putting patients at serious risk. For those caring for the sickest pediatric patients, strategies for reducing non-actionable alarms to mitigate alarm fatigue are needed to enhance patient safety.

Literature/Evidence:A review of the literature highlighted emerging evidence-based practice supporting the use of the CEASE bundle for nurse-led alarm management, as outlined in a quasi-experimental research study. Multiple systematic reviews substantiate the …

Mindful Cleanliness: Resetting Expectations For Environmental And Personal Hygiene To Reduce The Clabsi Rate In A Level Iv Nicu, Rebecca Palmer, Kymeyone Lanehart, Jerithea Tidwell, Sushmita Yallapragada, Jeanne Gaines, Courtney Campbell

2024

QUALITY

Background
/="/">CLABSIs place patients at high risk for mortality and morbidity, increasing length of stay, and additional costly and detrimental therapeutic interventions. Our NICU historically had a better than national average CLABSI rate, however, since 2022, our CLABSI rate spiked to above average. During this timeframe the unit experience higher census and acuity leading to increased workload and needs of patients and staff. In 2022, the CLABSI rate spiked from 0.53 in 2021 to 1.04 and 1.12 CLABSIs/1000 line days in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Methodology
/="/">Utilizing Quality Improvement methodology allowed identification of the root cause of …

Got Questions? Call Us: Utilizing Telephone Triage To Help Pediatric Patients After Discharge, Susan Webber, Ann Gosdin

2024

EBP

Background: Discharge follow-up programs help to reduce avoidable readmissions and unnecessary returns to the emergency department. Our organization lacked a clearly defined post-inpatient discharge process for patients on the hospitalist service. Information on the after-visit summary (AVS) includes follow-up appointment instructions and lists the main hospital phone number. Primary care providers often refer patients back to the hospital for questions related to the hospital stay. Post-discharge follow-up phone calls are labor-intensive, hard to sustain, and may not meet the patient’s needs. We sought a technology solution to assist and engage families post-discharge.

Purpose: This project aims to determine if …

Nicu Team Nursing Model: Purposeful Collaborative For Positive Outcomes, Kymeyone Lanehart, Rebecca Palmer, Jerithea Tidwell, Lisa Mason, Sharica Whitten, Katie Doerge, Sushmita Yallapragada

2024

INNOVATION

Background: In 2013, an elevated CLABSI rate as high as 3.4 indicated that a specialized team approach would be necessary to improve quality care and patient outcomes. Development of a unique blood stream infection (BSI) team, that focused specifically on managing central lines, was successful and later expanded in to focus on other quality metrics. In 2015, the team was re-named safety and quality (SAQ). In 2016, the NICU utilized the team model by developing an internal transport team (ITT) to complete internal transports for procedures. The SAQ and ITT groups merged in 2019 to improve efficiency in the …

Evaluation Of Supplemental Oxygen Use In The Acute Care Cardiology Unit And Opportunities For Standardizing Practice, Melanie Walsh, Alexandra Birely, Sarah Mahmalji, Sonali S. Patel

2024

RESEARCH

Purpose:
Oxygen delivery via nasal cannula is a standard therapy in hospitalized pediatric patients; however, it can have adverse effects in certain populations, such as infants with cardiac shunting physiology1,2. An oxygen-air blender can be used via standard nasal cannula to provide the lowest amount of fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) in order to reduce harm2. A recent Pediatric Acute Care Cardiology Collaborative (PAC3) Hospital Survey indicates that 88% of participating acute care cardiology units (ACCU) provide blended oxygen to patients, however, indications for use are not well-established3,4. A local ACCU nursing staff survey revealed mixed use of blended …

Timeliness Of “Red Event” Reviews: Optimizing “Cardiac-Multidisciplinary Assessment Of Performance” (C-Map) Rounds With Morbidity And Mortality Review, Andrea Torzone, Glenda Moate, Linn Groom, Mary Hart, Erin Hunter-Mcphan, Christa Conley, Kimberly Moore, Sarah Zoretic, Priya Bhaskar, Nicholas Andersen, Ryan Butts, Yousef Arar

2024

QUALITY

Background:
/="/">Review of Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) events within Heart Centers (HC) is critical for improving patient care. Timely review is important to maintain transparency and accuracy in recall and produce actionable items to reduce the likelihood for similar occurrences. Cardiac-Multidisciplinary Assessment of Performance (C-MAP) rounds and M&M Selection Committee were initiated July 2020 to review surgical patient outcomes, team performance, and events deviating from expected course. M&M selection committee consists of physicians, advanced practice nurses, and quality improvement consultants to determine patients appropriate for review at M&M conference. We aim to analyze timeliness of review following patient …

Exploration Of Central Venous Catheter Protective Devices In The Pediatric Population: A Mixed Methods Study, Lindsey Flores, Quineka Smith, Maria Leal, Melissa Ruffini

2024

RESEARCH

Purpose:
/="/">In the pediatric population, about 25% of the catheters are reported to have issues such as CLABSI, line dislodgement, contamination, or catheter breaks. The primary purpose of this study is to explore caregiver and nurse satisfaction of pediatric patients with CVCs that utilize a wearable protective device with specific aims to determine parent’s perception of the feasibility while wearing the device. Wearable devices are an extra measure utilized among pediatric patients for nurses and parents to further protect the CVC dressing and catheter from complications. A single site study found that utilizing a wearable device reduced line …

New Approach To Professional Governance In Ambulatory, Brittney Saldierna, Katelyn Tinkey, Diana Sarmiento

2024

INNOVATION

Shared Governance Committees have involved frontline staff in driving change for many years. However, they often involve significant input from leaders, making frontline staff feel like their opinions don't matter as much. Professional Governance Committees emphasize that frontline staff should be the primary drivers of change without significant influence from leaders. Leaders should focus on removing barriers to the frontline staff's vision and ensuring that all changes comply with policies and regulations.

This Ambulatory System has created a unique structure in which the Ambulatory Council (AC) is the overarching structure for nine other councils. These councils meet monthly and …

High Reliability Pediatric Heart Centers: Always Working Toward Getting Better, Andrea Torzone, Alexandra Birely

2024

QUALITY

Background
As provision of care reaches a new complexity in pediatric cardiology, programs are called upon to evaluate how they can bring their teams into the future of pediatric cardiac care. High reliability principles support high-quality care and improve outcomes, thus should be embraced to guide continuous improvement. Although much has been written about high reliability in healthcare, it has not been explored within pediatric heart centers. The purpose of this review is to examine high reliability through the lens of a contemporary pediatric heart center, elaborating on key concepts and proposed considerations for maintaining a high reliability heart …

Management Of Failure To Thrive In An Infant With Unrepaired Congenital Heart Disease: A Case Study On Energy And Nutrient Dense Formula, Alexandra Birely, Sarah Dundas

2024

EBP

Introduction: Infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk for malnutrition and failure to thrive (FTT). Preoperative nutritional status impacts postoperative outcomes; thus nutrition should be optimized before surgery. Unrepaired infants have higher energy requirements & fluid restrictions, posing challenges in promoting growth for surgery. Energy and nutrient-dense formula has successfully treated FTT in the postoperative phase, however, evidence is limited in unrepaired infants.

Case Description: The case presented is a 4-month ex-36 week infant, past medical history significant for CHD with large ventricular septal defect (VSD), atrial septal defect (ASD), pulmonary stenosis and solitary kidney. Following discharge …

Rise Of The New Grad: Early Engagement Of New Graduate Nurses In Professional Governance, Annie Tolliver, Katie Fields

2024

INNOVATION

Background: Traditionally, new graduate nurses (GNs) are advised to gain experience before participating in Nursing Professional Governance (NPG). NPG is a structure that empowers nurses to be decision-makers regarding the nursing practice environment. We identified GNs had minimal knowledge of and engagement in NPG. An innovative process was developed to involve GNs in NPG, challenging the traditional approach.

Literature: Substantial evidence supports that nurses engaged in NPG are empowered to make decisions, leading to better patient outcomes and increased professional satisfaction. Research shows GNs’ dedication and professional satisfaction are tied to their ability to embed into the organizational culture …