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Developing nursing care guidelines for children with Hodgkin's disease
Anita Max1, Jami Gattuso, Pam Hinds
1Divisions of Nursing Research and Patient Care Services, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 332 N. Lauderdale, Memphis, TN 38105-2794, USA. anita.max@stjude.org
Summary
Nursing care guidelines were developed for pediatric oncology patients undergoing treatment for Hodgkin's disease. These guidelines improved nurses' knowledge of the disease and treatment, enhancing patient care quality.
Area of Science:
- Oncology Nursing
- Clinical Trial Management
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Background:
- Therapeutic research protocols for oncology patients often lack detailed nursing care instructions.
- Specialized nursing care guidelines are essential for improving the quality of care for pediatric oncology patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and implement nursing care guidelines for pediatric oncology patients treated under a Hodgkin's disease protocol.
- To enhance understanding of the clinical trial, reduce errors, and improve patient care quality.
Main Methods:
- A seven-step process was used, involving protocol study, principal investigator collaboration, benchmarking, drafting, field testing, revision, and evaluation.
- Guidelines were implemented through in-services, with an evaluation plan including pre- and post-tests for nurses.
Main Results:
- The developed nursing care guidelines led to improved disease and treatment knowledge among participating nurses.
- Implementation of guidelines demonstrated potential for more accurate data collection and a clearer nursing role in protocol development.
Conclusions:
- Nursing care guidelines that parallel therapeutic protocols are valuable resources for delivering complex, protocol-directed care.
- These guidelines enhance the role of nurses in research and improve the overall quality of pediatric oncology patient care.