Lived Experiences of Perioperative Nurses Dealing With Pediatric Emergence Delirium: A Pilot Study

Friday, 20 July 2018

Allan Joseph V. Cresencia, MSN, RN, CPN
School of Nursing, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore, describe, and analyze the lived experiences of perioperative nurses dealing with pediatric emergence delirium and how that affects their quality of work and quality of life as nurses.

Methods: The study will utilize the qualitative research method, with qualitative descriptive phenomenology using Grounded Theory techniques as the methodology. Perioperative nurses with more than 2 years experience and have knowledge about pediatric emergence delirium are the target participants (N = 10).

Professional participants will be recruited through word of mouth recruitment via professional colleagues. Professional colleagues will help distribute recruitment flyers, and information letters regarding the study. Data collection using the interview approach which can be face-to-face, telephone, or video (Skype or Zoom) will take place in a mutually agreed upon time, and/or location that is quiet, private, and conducive to audio recording. The principal investigator will conduct the interview using an interview guide. Data analysis will be done after each interview.

Results: Preliminary findings from the five recruited participants (women, n = 4; men, n = 1) produced the following themes identified by the data analysis: (1) physical effects of emergence delirium, (2) collaborating with team members, (3) fears, emotions, and stress, (4) trying to avoid injury; (5) risks and contributing factors, and (6) identifying safety measures for pediatric emergence delirium. There is a real risk for injury that nurses take on while trying to manage the care of a child experiencing emergence delirium. Whether the nurses are aware of it or not, the potential for harm or hurt is always present when providing care to a child who is not aware of what he or she is doing.

Conclusion: The study is still in progress. The targeted number of participants (N = 10) is not achieved. Although initial results from data analysis offered promising results, data analysis of ten participants would provide a much richer supporting data for the themes identified.