Nurse perspectives on supporting children and youth who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Many children who require hospitalization in the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) are unable to or have difficulty communicating through speech, whether because of preexisting or acute conditions. Children who are unable to be heard and understood using only speech benefit from aided augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), including in hospital settings. This qualitative interview study sought to understand the perspectives of nurses on care and support for children who use or would benefit from aided AAC in the pediatric ICU. Participants were six nurses who worked in pediatric intensive care at a tertiary care unit of a children's hospital in the United States. Three main themes were identified related to nurses' views about supporting children's communication: (a) Caring for the Whole Child, (b) Needing Support from Others and Moving between Roles, and (c) Working with Available Resources and Demands. Nurses emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to care, the impact of others' support and knowledge, and a desire for building greater capacity for promoting children's access to effective communication. Findings offer insight that could improve patient-centered care for children with complex communication needs and support for nurses themselves, particularly within the broader context of ICU liberation.

Caregiver perceptions of an early mobility and communication protocol in the pediatric ICU.

PURPOSE: Early mobility (EM) and patient communication have known benefits for critically ill patients, but perceived barriers exist, notably related to family and caregiver concerns. Caregiver perceptions of an EM and communication therapy protocol in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) were assessed. METHODS: Caregivers of PICU patients at a free-standing academic children's hospital completed a survey using a Likert-type agreement scale on their perceptions surrounding the safety of EM, benefits of EM and communication, and barriers to EM and communication services. RESULTS: Forty caregivers completed the survey. Most agreed or strongly agreed that EM helped their child get stronger (76%), improved their child's mood (57%), helped them to be involved in their child's care (86%), and improved their child's overall experience (78%). Most disagreed with statements relating to EM causing fear or pain (57%). Caregivers agreed that communication therapy improved overall ICU experience (75%). Free-text comments emphasized meaningful relationships with rehabilitation and unit staff. CONCLUSION: Caregivers perceived EM and communication interventions as enriching to their child's ICU experience and the majority did not perceive that EM caused fear or pain.