Four Tips for ACLS Exam Studying Success

Healthcare professionals’ skills can only be bettered by research and the development of best practices. By constantly reassessing treatment protocols and condition requirements, healthcare professionals are able to continue providing effective and efficient life-saving care.

For individuals who work with infants, children and teens, staying up to date on pediatric nursing research can be particularly helpful. Here are a few recent studies and journal articles that can help you do just that.

New treatments for acute otitis media revealed in pediatric nursing research
Studies highlighted in the September/October 2011 issue of Pediatric Nursing identify best practices for treating acute otitis media (AOM). A common condition in children, AOM is often treated with systemic antibiotic therapy; however, research suggests it may resolve itself through only eardrops if non-complicated.1

Pediatric nursing research studies illustrate practices for minimizing stress on the parents of a hospitalized child
For parents, the hospitalization of a child can create insurmountable and unpredicted stress. Time away from work and home, financial stressors and uncertainty about a child’s diagnosis or prognosis can all cause anxiety. However, the communications between a child’s healthcare team and the parents should never be a source of stress. A recent Pediatric Nursing article provides sound critique and evidence revealing best practices for pediatric nurses and other hospital employees to effectively communicate with families. Some highlights include:

Healthcare is becoming more and more focused on the consumer. Therefore, it’s important for hospitals and healthcare providers to take the steps to effectively meet consumer needs.
Research included in the article revealed that parents want to be – and should be – included in hospital rounds.
Open, timely and reliable communication between families and hospital staff is shown to reduce stress and increase a family’s satisfaction during the hospital stay.
More research is needed regarding the means in which families receive communication. Some possibilities include: a once-a-day phone call from a designated treatment team member alerting the family of updates and progress or a set form for the treatment team to fill out on a regular basis to leave by the patient’s bedside with all the important information.

Systematic review of bronchiolitis treatment therapies
Bronchiolitis, a common respiratory illness in infants in children, makes breathing difficult as airways leading to the lungs become infected and inflamed.2 In infants, bronchiolitis is the most frequent cause of hospitalization, yet management and treatment therapies aren’t always supported by evidence. A recent Journal of Pediatric Nursing article (http://www.pediatricnursing.org/article/S0882-5963(10)00233-2/abstract) offers a systematic review identifying best practices – based on evidence – regarding the care of infants and children with this debilitating infection. Some highlights include:

Supportive care is the most effective means of caring for infants and children with bronchiolitis.
One study included in the systematic review noted nebulized hypertonic saline in conjunction with bronchodilators may be effective in treating bronchiolitis.
A hood is just as effective as a mask in delivering nebulized epinephrine.
By using a ‘clinical pathway’, healthcare professionals can move evidence regarding care of infants and children into clinical practice. A ‘clinical pathway’ states the goals of care based on evidence-based medicine guidelines, best practices and patient expectations.

Supplement pediatric nursing research knowledge with certification
Along with knowledge gleaned from recent journal articles, pediatric nurses may find certifications beneficial when seeking employment and providing care to infants, children and teenagers. Health Ed Solutions offers online certification classes in pediatric advanced life support (PALS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) and basic life support (BLS). Each of these courses can arm healthcare professionals with the tools and knowledge they need to provide life-saving care to pediatric patients.

Find PALS, BLS and ACLS classes information, learn more about CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) training courses, and read about ACLS certification online.

1 http://www.pediatricnursing.net/issues/11sepoct/abstr5.html

2 http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/bronchiolitis.html