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| | Nursing Excellence |
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| | Nurses Research Ways to Reduce Stress in Kids !
Thinking about a future surgery can be scary for kids. Parents may also have some fears.
Waverly Health Center nurses recognize this stress and are working to understand it better. They plan to do a study to see how parents get their kids ready for surgery at the health center.
Currently, WHC nurses call families before surgery to explain details about the surgery day and what the parent and child can expect.
The surgery complex also hosts “pre-op parties” for kids twice a month. Kids who attend are given a tour of the area and are shown how some of the equipment works. The staff wants to help reduce anxiety and make kids feel comfortable.
Previous studies show that 40 to 60% of kids who undergo anesthesia are scared. Studies also show that if kids are stressed before surgery, it can lead to agitation, deep breathing, trembling, crying and attempts to escape.
After surgery, kids who are scared may have more pain, bad dreams or wake up crying more often. They may also have more separation anxiety and temper tantrums. One study found that kids with higher levels of anxiety were 3.5 times more likely to display bad behavior after surgery than kids with lower levels of anxiety.
The WHC study will be done by someone trained to ask questions. Parents or guardians will be interviewed while they are at Waverly Health Center. They will be asked questions about how they got their child ready for surgery. The survey will be the same for every family.
With the study results, health center nurses hope to understand how kids are being prepared right now. The goal is to improve the way kids get ready for surgery in the future. Better preparation could lead to less stress and fear. It will also help nurses give the right information to families.
Another goal is to share the conclusions from the study with other hospitals to help improve care. While this is the first study done by health center staff, they plan to do more in the future.
“We hope that parents asked will participate in our study,” stated Cathy Wilson-Sands, MSN, RN-BC, associate director of nursing practice. “With their help, we look forward to improving the surgery experience for future kids.”
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Click here to download the WHC Nursing Annual Report
Nursing Credentials
- Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) -
In the advanced role, the nurse practices nursing assessment, intervention and management within the boundaries of the nurse-client relationship. The ARNP practices within an interdisciplinary health care team and performs selected medically delegated functions when a collaborative practice agreement exists.
- Registered Nurse (RN) -
The registered nurse at Waverly Health Center assumes responsibility and accountability for the delivery of nursing care. The RN is responsible for assessing, delegating and coordinating nursing care based on the patient’s problem and needs, by initiating the nursing process in the everyday practice of nursing.
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) -
The licensed practical nurse at Waverly Health Center performs services with supportive care under the supervision of a RN or physician.
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