Pain Reduction Emergency Protocol: A Prospective Study Evaluating Impact of a Nurse-initiated Protocol on Pain Management and Parental Satisfaction.

OBJECTIVES: Pain control remains suboptimal in pediatric emergency departments (EDs). Only 60% of pediatric patients requiring pain medications receive them in the ED, with an average time of administration being 90 minutes after arrival. Although pain protocols (PP) have been proposed and evaluated in children with long-bone fractures, data on PP utility for general pediatric patients with acute pain are limited. Our objective is to introduce a nursing-initiated PP with medication algorithms for use in triage, measure the improvement in management of severe pain on arrival to the ED and determine the effect on parental satisfaction. METHODS: Prospective prestudy and poststudy conducted from June to October 2017. Patients aged 3 to 17 years presenting to a large tertiary pediatric ED with acute pain were eligible. Preprotocol demographics, clinical data, and pain interventions were obtained over a 6-week period. A convenience sample of parents completed a satisfaction survey rating their experience with ED pain management during this time. In the 4-week intervention phase, the PP was introduced to our ED nurses. Postintervention data were collected in the same fashion as the preintervention phase. Analysis was done using independent sample t test and χ2 models. RESULTS: There were 1590 patients evaluated: preprotocol (n = 816), postprotocol (n = 774). Approximately 10% more patients with severe pain received pain medication in the post-PP sample compared with pre-PP (85.6% and 75.9% respectively). Parental satisfaction was higher in patients who received analgesic medications within 90 minutes of arrival to the ED (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of a PP in the ED setting improved the treatment of pain. There was a significant increase in patients with severe pain receiving analgesic medications. Additionally, parents were more satisfied if their children received pain medication in a more timely fashion. Pediatric EDs should consider introducing PPs to improve appropriate and timely administration of pain medication in triage.

Reducing central line-associated bloodstream infection in contaminated central venous catheters: case studies of a pediatric contamination guideline.

Healthcare organizations have prioritized patient safety and quality improvement efforts to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). Implementation of central venous catheter (CVC) insertion and maintenance bundles have significantly reduced infection rates. Nevertheless, CLABSIs continue to be a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in hospitals, and further efforts are necessary to improve CVC care practices. A hospital-wide committee at a tertiary care pediatric hospital identified gaps in our CVC maintenance practices resulting from CVC contamination events from a patient's body fluids. A lack of published literature on the topic resulted in the need to create an institutional clinical practice guideline (CPG) to develop guidance to mitigate potential CLASBIs from CVC contamination. Utilization of the CVC CPG in all inpatient units and other reduction strategies resulted in a steady decline in our CLABSI rates, particularly in those related to CVC contamination events. Case reports illustrate the effectiveness of the CPG.

Active Shooter Training in the Emergency Department: A Safety Initiative.

PROBLEM: Active shooter incidents are becoming more common, and although they are still rare compared with other shooting sites, incidents have increased in health care facilities. Agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, The Joint Commission, and the Emergency Nurses Association have emphasized that an action plan and training are essential for hospital preparedness. METHODS: Planning an active shooter simulation for the emergency department was a complex project and involved collaboration between the hospital's Emergency Management team, simulation staff, security, and ED leadership, which included the educators and clinical nurse specialist. Decisions were made related to appropriate location, equipment, and needs for the functional exercises. Scenarios also were developed with roles for the ED population and actors. RESULTS: A total of 204 staff members participated in the simulations between August and December of 2016. A survey was distributed to staff who attended the simulation. Ninety-two percent of staff felt more prepared to respond to an active shooter event and reported a 70% improvement in knowledge and preparation. Attendees reported their first response would be to flee the scene (66%), protect patients (15%), hide (7%), fight (6%), and call 911 (4%). IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The active shooter education included a didactic portion, a pre- and postsurvey, and the simulation event. The presentation focused on statistics of active shooters, possible threats, and the concepts of RUN, HIDE, and FIGHT. A Critical Incident Stress Management team member was present to ensure the emotional and psychological health of the participants. The debriefing was a crucial part of the simulation experience so staff could talk about their experience and express their concerns.

Effective Management of Pain and Anxiety for the Pediatric Patient in the Emergency Department.

Inadequate treatment of pain for children in the emergency department is a persistent problem. Health care professionals are bound by ethical principles to provide adequate pain management; in children, this may be challenging owing to cognitive and developmental differences, lack of knowledge regarding best practices, and other barriers. Studies have concluded that immediate assessment, treatment, and reassessment of pain after an intervention are essential. Self-report and behavioral scales are available. Appropriate management includes pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions. Specific diagnoses (eg, abdominal pain or traumatic injuries) have been well-studied and guidance is available to maximize efforts in managing the associated pain.

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.