MCN. The American journal of maternal child nursing
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MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs · Nov 2007
Neonatal intensive care unit sound levels before and after structural reconstruction.
This study compared sound levels before and after structural reconstruction within an NICU. ⋯ Findings from this study demonstrated the positive impact that reconstruction can have on sound levels (4 dB Leq decrease); however, additional interventions may be needed to meet the current standards for noise reduction in an NICU.
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MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs · Sep 2007
ReviewEnd-of-life nursing education consortium for pediatric palliative care (ELNEC-PPC).
Pediatric nurses must often care for children with life-threatening illness. Although the child may be a neonate with multiple organ failure, a young adolescent diagnosed with HIV, or a 7-year-old child involved in a serious bicycle accident, pediatric nurses are an essential part of the interdisciplinary team that plans, organizes, implements, and manages the care of these children and their families. To date, more than 600 pediatric nurses have attended a national End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium-Pediatric Palliative Care (ELNEC-PPC) training program. ⋯ Because pediatric palliative care education is so important, many trainers have incorporated ELNEC-PPC into their nursing orientation, annual competencies, and undergraduate and graduate nursing education. They are developing standards of care and serve on key hospital/hospice committees, such as policy, education, clinical care, and ethics committees. This article showcases various activities of ELNEC-PPC trainers and demonstrates their commitment to improve pediatric palliative care not only in their institutions but also on local, state, national, and international levels.
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High-quality pediatric palliative care should be an expected standard in the United States, especially since the publication of the numerous position statements such as "Precepts of Palliative Care for Children and Adolescents and Their Families," a joint statement created by the Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses, the National Association of Neonatal Nurses, and the Society of Pediatric Nurses. Although many barriers still exist, dedicated individuals and teams strive to promote models of excellence and improve care for children with life-threatening conditions and their families. The Pediatric Advanced Care Team, a joint project of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children's Hospital, Boston, is one such interdisciplinary pediatric palliative care consultation service. ⋯ This article describes our journey as an interdisciplinary team forging a new service within two renowned medical institutions in which historically the primary emphasis of care has been on cure and innovation. Although these values remain, our work has resulted in an increased acceptance of balancing treatment of the underlying disease or condition along with treatment of the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of the child and family through life or death. One of our goals is to help promote a balance of hope for cure with hope for comfort, dignity, and integrity for every child and family.
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MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs · Sep 2007
Fetal Concerns Program: a model for perinatal palliative care.
Advances in fetal diagnostics have resulted in families facing a pregnancy complicated by a fetal health concern. Perinatal literature supports that these families benefit from extensive counseling and education presented by a multidisciplinary team. ⋯ This article reviews perinatal palliative care concepts and describes the Fetal Concerns Program's development as a perinatal palliative care service within a broader program. The special role of the nurse coordinator of the Fetal Concerns Program is highlighted.
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To replicate a previously published descriptive study of sound levels in the NICU. ⋯ Sound levels continue to be a clinical challenge for NICU nurses. This study suggests some modification of care practices and equipment selection that could reduce sound levels and concludes that sound reduction is a continuing need in neonatal care.