Amy Huett

Increasing Capacity for Evidence-Based Practice Through the Evidence-Based Practice Academy

: Although mentoring is an important aspect of implementing evidence-based practice (EBP), few models exist for EBP education. The EBP Academy is an innovative, 6-month educational program designed to develop clinical staff as EBP nurse mentors. Sessions provide protected time for participants to work on their EBP projects with assigned mentors who have EBP expertise and similar clinical or research interests. Participants develop EBP projects focused on improving care in their clinical areas. Evaluation of the EBP Academy is based on a four-level model, including participant feedback about the program, perception of meeting program objectives, ability to apply knowledge to practice through EBP projects, and outcome data measured as a result of implementing the EBP changes. By developing EBP mentors, capacity to move nursing practice to a stronger evidence-based foundation can be enhanced. Positive, professional nursing and patient outcomes have been demonstrated when structured EBP education is provided.

Soft on sticks: an evidence-based practice approach to reduce children's needlestick pain.

Soft on Sticks is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, evidence-based practice initiative that was implemented to ensure consistent use of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions to reduce pain associated with needlestick procedures performed on children. Pre- and postimplementation data from children, parents, and nurses showed positive results from the practice change and identified areas for further improvement.

Bereaved caregivers as educators in pediatric palliative care: their experiences and impact.

BACKGROUND With the continuing growth of pediatric palliative care, there is an increasing need to develop effective training for health care professionals. Bereaved parents have participated in the training of health care professionals utilizing curriculum from the Initiative for Pediatric Palliative Care (IPPC), but the experience of bereaved parents as educators has not been studied. OBJECTIVES This qualitative research examined the experience of bereaved parents involved in pediatric palliative care education of health care professionals and the challenges and possible benefits for the health care professionals. METHODS Nine bereaved parents and eleven health care professionals were interviewed about their experiences in a pediatric palliative care education program utilizing the IPPC curriculum. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded and analyzed for themes and subthemes. RESULTS Major themes found were a sense of purpose for the parents and benefits and challenges for both parents and professionals. The experience for parents contributed to their meaning-making for both their childrens lives and deaths. Parents and professionals identified mutual learning and increased mutual understanding. Some professionals noted that the presence of parents may have limited the openness of discussion of the professionals and parents acknowledged challenges of emotional management in their participation in the educational program. Both parents and professionals recognized and described challenges involved in working sensitively with patients and families without being overwhelmed by the intensity of situations where children die. CONCLUSION More benefits than burdens were experienced by both parents and health care professionals from the participation of bereaved parents in the palliative care trainings.

Implementation of a Nurse Driven Pathway to Reduce Incidence of Hospital Acquired Pressure Injuries in the Pediatric Intensive Care Setting

Purpose: A large, freestanding pediatric hospital in the southern United States saw a 117% increase in reported hospital acquired pressure injuries (HAPI) between 2013 and 2015, with the intensive care units being the units of highest occurrence. Design and Methods A quality improvement project was designed and implemented to assist with pressure injury prevention. Literature review confirmed that pediatric HAPIs are a challenge and that usage of bundles and user‐friendly guidelines/pathways can help eliminate barriers to prevention. The aim of this quality improvement project had two aims. First, to reduce HAPI incidence in the PICU by 10%. Second, to increase consistent usage of pressure injury prevention strategies as evidenced by a 10% increase in pressure injury bundle compliance. The third aim was to identify if there are differences in percentage of interventions implemented between two different groups of patients. Donabedians model of Structure, Process, and Outcomes guided the development and implementation of this quality improvement project. Interventions focused on risk assessment subscale scores have the opportunity to mitigate specific risk factors and improve pressure injury prevention. Results: Through implementation of the nurse driven pathway there was as 57% decrease in reported HAPIs in the PICU as well as a 66% increase in pressure ulcer prevention bundle compliance. Conclusions: Implementation of the nurse driven pressure injury prevention pathway was successful. There was a significant increase in bundle compliance for pressure ulcer prevention and a decrease in reported HAPIs. Practice Implications: The pathway developed and implemented for this quality improvement project could be adapted to other populations and care settings to provide guidance across the continuum. HighlightsPressure injuries are a costly epidemic in healthcare, including pediatrics.Pathways should outline specific pressure injury prevention interventions.Pressure injury prevention pathway usage was improved compared to current practice.Utilization of a pathway showed reduced incidence of pressure injuries.