Documentation of Assessments and Interventions Using a Pediatric Preoperative Risk Assessment Checklist in the Postanesthesia Care Unit: A Quality Improvement Initiative

Abstract

PurposeDescribe the impact of the implementation of an evidence-based pediatric preoperative risk assessment (PPRA) checklist on the frequency of postanesthesia care unit (PACU) nursing assessments and interventions in children at risk for respiratory complications during emergence from anesthesia. DesignProspective pre-/postdesign. MethodsPediatric perianesthesia nurses assessed 100 children preintervention according to current standard. After nurses received pediatric preoperative risk factor (PPRF) education, another 100 children were assessed postintervention using the PPRA checklist. Pre-/postpatients were unmatched for statistical purposes due to two different groups. Frequency of PACU nursing respiratory assessments/interventions was evaluated. FindingsDemographic variables, risk factors, frequency of nursing assessments/interventions were summarized in pre-/postinterventions. Significant differences (P < .001) were noted between pre-/postintervention groups with increased frequency of postnursing assessments/interventions that correlated with increased risk factors and weighted risk factors. ConclusionsBy identifying total PPRFs, PACU nurses used their plan of care to frequently assess and pre-emptively intervene with children who had increased risk factors to prevent or mitigate respiratory complications on emergence from anesthesia.