Pediatric nursing
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Family centered care (FCC) is an essential component of pediatric nursing. A unit-based FCC Committee was charged with evaluating care on an inpatient infant-toddler unit. The committee adapted the Institute of Family Centered Care survey tools and used them to evaluate parent and staff perceptions of FCC care provided on the unit. ⋯ However, they did identify concerns about educational issues and pain assessment. In contrast, the staff reported more negative perceptions regarding the delivery of FCC, and their primary concern was the unit environment. The FCC Committee used the findings from the survey to first educate the staff and then implement changes to improve the environment and the care delivered.
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Although major healthcare and professional organizations as well as key leaders have long emphasized the importance of evidence-based practice (EBP) in improving patient care and outcomes, the majority of healthcare professionals do not implement EBP. There is a huge gap in time that exists between the generation of research findings and the translation of those findings into clinical practice. Many efficacious interventions are not being used in clinical practice even though research findings suggest that they improve child and adolescent health and development. ⋯ S. participated in the Summit. This article describes the process used and outcomes generated from this landmark event in child and adolescent healthcare, including the launching of the new National Consortium for Pediatric and Adolescent EBP (NCPAEP). Future directions of the consortium also are highlighted.
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This article examines the evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of acute cough in children. Cough is a common symptom in children and a frequent reason for consultation in primary care. Generally, an acute cough is a self-limiting condition resulting from expected childhood viral illnesses. ⋯ These reviews indicate that cough medications offer no symptomatic relief for acute cough in children, and the use of cough and cold medications is inappropriate in young children and also places young children at risk for potential side effects and adverse reactions. The management of acute cough in children is based on a "wait, watch, review" approach. Clinicians should educate parents on expected illness duration, the risks of using over-the-counter medications, and discuss safe, supportive care measures to alleviate the child's discomfort.
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Professional nursing practice models provide a theoretical and conceptual framework that nurses can use as a foundation for practice. The utilization of a practice model helps establish professional identity and improves quality outcomes. A freestanding children's hospital sought to identify and adopt a professional practice model to optimize outcomes for patients and families, the nursing staff, and the organization. ⋯ Various strategies were used to implement the model and sustain the culture change. Examples include providing periodic education, incorporating the model into nursing procedures, and assisting nurses in using the model at the bedside. The model of care has been successfully implemented in both the inpatient and outpatient areas of this pediatric hospital.
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Few bibliometric studies have been done of the nursing literature; however, much can be learned about nursing and specialty areas of clinical practice by examining the articles published in nursing journals. The purposes of this study were to describe the extent of research, clinical, and evidence-based practice articles published in maternal/child nursing journals and the information sources used to develop that literature. ⋯ Research publications were cited most frequently including research studies published in medical journals (n=687, 26.7% of all the cited documents), followed by research studies published in nursing journals (n=371, 14.4%) and journals in other disciplines. The maternal/child nursing journals examined in this study are disseminating research findings to nurses for use in clinical practice.