Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to educate Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) staff about Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) and implement an ICU diary program for pediatric patients and their families.|Background: PICS is a newly recognized condition which occurs in patients following an intensive care stay. This condition exhibits a wide spectrum of physical, psychological, and cognitive symptoms. ICU diaries have shown promise in lessening the effects of PICS when used throughout a patient’s hospital stay.|Sample/Setting: 58 registered nurses working in a 12-bed midwestern PICU and 9 patients and their families participated in this pilot project.|Methods: A coordinated education and ICU diary program was implemented and evaluated with descriptive statistics. All PICU RNs received PICS education. ICU diaries were implemented with patients and families with a length of stay greater than 3 days. Surveys were completed by PICU RNs and patients/families. These surveys determined the benefits, clinical utility, and pragmatics of the ICU diaries.|
Results: Over two-thirds of nurses felt that the ICU diary program was beneficial to their patients and families and identified the time burden was minimal. Families were receptive and open to the use of the diary to document their child’s ICU stay.|Conclusion: Overall, the coordinated use of PICS-related education and the ICU diary lead to increased knowledge about PICS and improved communication between the bedside nursing providers and families in the PICU.