Evidence-based approach to mitigate cumulative stress in pediatric nurses through the development of respite rooms.

BACKGROUND: The cumulative stress toll on nurses increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. An evidence-based practice (EBP) project was conducted to understand what is known about the impacts of cumulative stress within nursing and if there are ways to mitigate stress during a nurse's shift. AIM/IMPLEMENTATION: A project team from three clinical units completed an extensive literature review and identified the need to promote detachment while supporting parasympathetic recovery. Based on this review, leaders from three pediatric clinical units (neonatal intensive care unit, cardiovascular intensive care unit, and acute pulmonary floor) implemented respite rooms. OUTCOMES: Follow-up outcomes showed a statistically significant stress reduction. For all shifts combined, the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test revealed that perceived stress scores from an 11-point Likert scale (0 = no stress and 10 = maximum perceived stress) were significantly lower in the post-respite room (Md = 3, n = 68) compared to in the pre-respite room (Md = 6, n = 68), Z = -7.059, p < .001, with a large effect size, r = .605. Nurses and other staff frequently utilized respite rooms during shifts. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Clinical inquiry and evidence-based practice processes can mitigate cumulative stress and support staff wellbeing. Respite rooms within the hospital can promote a healthy work environment among nurses and promote a self-care culture change. Evidence-based strategies to mitigate cumulative stress using respite rooms are a best practice to promote nurse wellbeing and mitigate cumulative stress.

Steering the Titanic: One tertiary care children's hospital's experience navigating safe sleep for hospitalized infants.

BACKGROUND: Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) is the leading cause of death in infants 1 month to 1 year of age in the United States. Despite extensive efforts in research and public education, rates of sleep-related infant death have plateaued since the late-1990s, largely due to unsafe sleep practices and environments. LOCAL PROBLEM: A multidisciplinary team assessed our institution's compliance with its own infant safe sleep policy. Data was collected on infant sleep practices, nurses' knowledge and training on the hospital policy, and teaching practices for parents and caregivers of hospitalized infants. Zero crib environments from our baseline observation met all the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for infant safe sleep. METHODS: A comprehensive safe sleep program was implemented in a large pediatric hospital system. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to improve compliance with safe sleep practice from 0% to 80%, documentation of infant sleep position and environment every shift from 0% to 90%, and documentation of caregiver education from 12% to 90% within 24 months. INTERVENTIONS: Interventions included revision of hospital policy, staff education, family education, environmental modifications, creation of a safe sleep taskforce, and electronic health record modifications. RESULTS: Documented compliance with infant safe sleep interventions at the bedside improved from 0% to 88%, while documentation of family safe sleep education improved from 12% to 97% during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: A multifaceted, multidisciplinary approach can lead to significant improvements in infant safe sleep practices and education in a large tertiary care children's hospital system.

Exploring nurse beliefs and perceived readiness for system wide integration of evidence based practice in a large pediatric health care system.

PURPOSE: Evidence-based practice (EBP) within healthcare leads to improved patient outcomes, high-quality care, job satisfaction, reduced turnover, professional autonomy, and validates nursing practice. Although a plethora of research focuses on implementing EBP, there has been little attention on assessing organizational readiness for integration. The primary aims of this study were to explore nursing beliefs and attitudes about EBP and explore the culture and readiness among pediatric nurses for system-wide integration of EBP. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was a quantitative, cross-sectional survey-based study conducted at a large pediatric health system. RESULTS: Overall pediatric nurses had a mean score of 61.78 ± 9.32 on the EBPB (n = 396). Results of the EBPB Scale and OCRSIEP showed no statistical difference between nursing roles EBPB scores; however, nursing leaders had higher scores than any other nursing role. The OCRSIEP had a mean score of 84.98 ± 19.53 (n = 388). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that pediatric nurses believe that EBP results in the best clinical care for patients and can improve clinical care, but they lack the skills and time necessary to engage in the process. This study found that increasing awareness of EBP resources and developing EBP competencies may assist pediatric nurse leaders with EBP integration into daily practice. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Increasing visibility and competencies of EBP may positively impact organizational readiness by increasing confidence needed to remove identified barriers and engrain EBP in the organization's culture.

Incorporating a Civility Program Into a Healthcare System: Journey or Expedition?

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: Incivility contributes to employee dissatisfaction, turnover, patient errors, and a disrespectful culture. Turnover rates and employee exit interviews alerted hospital leaders to uncivil behaviors exhibited by staff. A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) team captured this as an opportunity to create a civility program to develop team cohesiveness and improve patient safety. The purpose of this process improvement project was to identify uncivil behaviors in a pediatric hospital. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT/PROGRAM: Using the Plan-Do-Study-Act model, an interprofessional team led by CNSs collaborated on a program to assess, intervene, and evaluate a program to improve civility. A preprogram survey, the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised, was used to assess staff perceptions of their work environment. Staff attended an education program on ways to recognize and intervene in situations involving less than standard civil behavior. Classes included communication application in uncivil situations using scenarios paired with evidence-based practice articles. Unit leaders reset behavioral expectations learned from a leader-specific class on managing unproductive behaviors. OUTCOME: Staff completed a postprogram Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised survey 6 months after conclusion of classes. Survey results indicated the civility program effected a reduction in frequency of negative behaviors indicating an overall positive shift in workplace civility. CONCLUSION: The program provided staff with tools to recognize and intervene for improving civility, which impacted the overall work environment and patient safety.

Ensuring Safe Transfer of Pediatric Patients: A Quality Improvement Project to Standardize Handoff Communication.

BACKGROUND: During a single hospital stay, a patient's care is transferred several times between health care clinicians requiring multiple handoffs. Nurses often voice concerns about feeling unsafe when receiving patients from other areas. AIMS: The aims of the intradepartmental quality improvement project were to identify the safest way to transfer care of pediatric patients and to improve bedside nurses' knowledge on conducting an evidence based practice project. METHODS: Guided by clinical nurse specialists, nurses from various departments worked together and reviewed the literature regarding safe transfers, timing, and handoff communication. RESULTS: Findings from this quality improvement project led to creation and implementation of a system wide handoff tool. Use of the handoff tool decreased medication errors and improved nursing satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Partnering with bedside nursing staff to research and apply system wide quality improvements can increase knowledge and understanding of evidence based practice as well as quality of patient care.

Inpatient bronchiolitis guideline implementation and resource utilization.

BACKGROUND: Provider-dependent practice variation in children hospitalized with bronchiolitis is not uncommon. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) can streamline practice and reduce utilization however, CPG implementation is complex. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team developed and implemented CPGs for management of bronchiolitis for children <2 years old. Children with comorbidities, ICU admissions, and outside hospital transfers were excluded. Implementation involved teamwork and collaboration, provider education, online access to CPGs, order sets, data sharing, and monthly team meetings. Resource utilization was defined as use of chest x-rays (CXRs), antibiotics, steroids, and more than 2 doses of inhaled bronchodilator use. Outcome metrics included length of stay (LOS) and readmission rate. Bronchiolitis season was defined as September to April. Data were collected for 2 seasons post implementation. RESULTS: The number CPG-eligible patients in the pre- and 2 postimplementation periods were similar (1244, preimplementation; 1159, postimplementation season 1; 1283 postimplementation season 2). CXRs decreased from 59.7% to 45.1% (P < .0001) in season 1 to 39% (P < .0001) in season 2. Bronchodilator use decreased from 27% to 20% (P < .01) in season 1 to 14% (P < .002) in season 2. Steroid use significantly reduced from 19% to 11% (P < .01). Antibiotic use did not change significantly (P = .16). LOS decreased from 2.3 to 1.8 days (P < .0001) in season 1 and 1.9 days (P < .05) in season 2. All-cause 7-day readmission rate did not change (P = .45). CONCLUSIONS: Bronchiolitis CPG implementation resulted in reduced use of CXRs, bronchodilators, steroids, and LOS without affecting 7-day all-cause readmissions.