Pediatric Resuscitation.

This article describes evidence-based nursing practices for detecting pediatric decompensation and prevention of cardiopulmonary arrest and outlines the process for effective and high-quality pediatric resuscitation and postresuscitation care. Primary concepts include pediatric decompensation signs and symptoms, pediatric resuscitation essential practices, and postresuscitation care, monitoring, and outcomes. Pediatric-specific considerations for family presence during resuscitation, ensuring good outcomes for medically complex children in community settings, and the role of targeted temperature management, continuous electroencephalography, and the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in pediatric resuscitation are also discussed.

Assessing Nursing and Pediatric Resident Understanding of Delirium in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Delirium is a common disease process in the pediatric critical care unit, yet practices for screening and prevention vary drastically between institutions. The authors hypothesized that surveying pediatric residents and nurses who care for patients in the intensive care setting would expose misunderstandings about delirium. They brought to light common incorrect beliefs that benzodiazepines are appropriate therapy for delirium and that children who are delirious will not have memories of the experience.

Delirium in Children: Identification, Prevention, and Management.

Delirium in children is an often underrecognized but serious complication of hospitalization. Delirium in this age group has been described as behaviors such as refractory agitation and restlessness, visual or auditory hallucinations, children being "not themselves," and a lethargic state. Often, children with delirium are at risk for harming themselves by dislodging tubes, falling, or refusing care.

Caring for Pediatric Patients' Families at the Child's End of Life.

Nurses play an important role in supporting families who are faced with the critical illness and death of their child. Grieving families desire compassionate, sensitive care that respects their wishes and meets their needs. Families often wish to continue relationships and maintain lasting connections with hospital staff following their child's death.

Pediatric brain death: updated guidelines.

Logan, a 5-year-old boy, was riding his bike with his 7-year-old brother when he was struck from behind by a car traveling at approximately 40 mph. The driver indicated that she did not see the riders until she hit Logan, who was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Logan was thrown from his bike and was found at the side of the road, unresponsive and posturing.

Prevention of central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections in pediatric intensive care units: a performance improvement collaborative.

Objective: The goal of this effort was to reduce central venous catheter (CVC)-associated bloodstream infections (BSIs) in pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) patients by means of a multicenter evidence-based intervention.

Methods: An observational study was conducted in 26 freestanding children's hospitals with pediatric or cardiac ICUs that joined a Child Health Corporation of America collaborative. CVC-associated BSI protocols were implemented using a collaborative process that included catheter insertion and maintenance bundles, daily review of CVC necessity, and daily goals.

Supporting families of technology-dependent patients hospitalized in a pediatric intensive care unit.

Having a child hospitalized in the PICU is a stressful event and may be even worse for parents when their child is technology dependent. These parents are often experts at knowing their child, are used to being strong caregivers and advocates for their child, and may experience long-term sorrow or grief over their child's lifespan. Although there is little research about effective PICU nursing interventions for this parent group, several suggestions can be inferred.

Implementation of a nursing professional practice model of care in a pediatric hospital.

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.