Related Experiment Videos
The use of a daily goals sheet to improve communication in the paediatric intensive care unit
Lorri M Phipps1, Neal J Thomas
1Department of Paediatrics, Division of Paediatric Critical Care Medicine (LMP, NJT), Penn State Children's Hospital, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
Objective:
To assess the impact of the implementation of a daily goals sheet upon nursing perception of communication in an academic, tertiary care paediatric intensive care unit (PICU).
Design:
Prospective, longitudinal, before-and-after intervention surveys.
Setting:
University affiliated 12-bed PICU.
Subjects:
Bedside nurses.
Interventions:
A questionnaire was administered to PICU nurses addressing their perception of communication. Following this questionnaire, the use of a daily goals sheet was instituted. A second questionnaire was administered one year later. Mann-Whitney Rank Sum Test was used to compare differences of the graded outcome variables.
Measurements And Main Results:
The primary outcome was the perception of communication taken from a nursing perspective. Eighty-five percent of nurses felt the daily goals sheet led to improved communication between physicians and nurses in the PICU. All questions related to communication demonstrated a positive influence of the goals sheet, with the perception of the PICU staff working as a team reaching statistical significance (p=0.05). The perception of the care of one surgical service being attending physician directed also significantly improved after the institution of the goals sheet (p=0.04).
Conclusion:
The institution of a daily goals sheet led to an improvement in nursing perception of communication. Future studies are required to determine if this change in process has a demonstrable effect on health care outcomes of critically ill children, or whether this tool can have the same beneficial effects in other academic and non-academic PICUs.
Related Concept Videos
Flow Sheet
Here's a closer look at the examples of flowsheets commonly used by nurses:
Graphic Sheet Documentation:
Role of Communication in the Nursing Process II: Planning and Implementation
Methods of Documentation III: PIE
Methods of Documentation IV: Focus Charting
It typically involves three columns for recording information:
Planning Nursing Care II
Guidelines for Writing Outcome
Patient outcomes reflect the patient's response to the goal rather than what the nurse aims to achieve. Terminology should be observable and measurable to avoid the reader's interpretation. The desired outcome should be realistic and achievable in the designated care timeframe. Expected outcomes should align with adjunctive therapies. The outcome should enhance care evaluation by...