Beverly Sampson

The importance of continued education with any profession is paramount. Within the Nursing profession it is a requirement. In general, to maintain your license you need twenty-four continuing education credits (CEU's) every two years. This article will discuss, and hopefully motivate us to go above and beyond that requirement so that we may be able to take better care of our patients. In fact, one could argue that our patients will be safer due to the increased skill this knowledge will create. It has been almost twenty years since graduating with a bachelor's degree in Nursing and it has never been more evident how important it is to stay at the top of our practice by keeping our knowledge base of the most current trends in healthcare at its peak. Some ways we can do this are by attending conferences in our areas of specialty and reading evidence-based practice articles. Recently, I attended a national conference in my area of specialty. I cannot stress the importance of doing this. Just by being around your peers, all with the same desire to boost their knowledge base, is a very motivating experience. Some of your peers may be novices while others would be considered experts. Interacting with the varying skill levels will allow you to be educator and educated. This type of networking with peers is a great way to stay connected with the latest healthcare trends to better take care of your patients, which in my opinion should be the ultimate goal. Exchange contact information and share with your colleagues some of your successes and failures throughout the year, this will provide invaluable insight as to what works well and what you might want to avoid when it comes to your practice. Also, at these conferences the latest trends in your specialty will be talked about and usually accompany case scenarios that really help put the information together. Conferences will also expose you to vendors that carry specific products that may benefit your particular patient population. Products that might help you create a safer work environment or help make the care you give easier. Another way to keep current with the latest healthcare trends in your specialty is by reading articles regarding evidenced-based care. These articles will encompass many facets of the continuum of care including patient preferences, clinical expertise and studies that have been performed regarding particular aspects of care.There are a variety of medical journals available, and they will keep you abreast of the latest research and findings in your area of specialty. Many healthcare facilities have medical libraries available to their employees which carry these journals in all areas of specialty. In conclusion, continued education is a vital component to providing our patients the best possible care. The Nursing profession as a whole benefits when we grow as individuals in our knowledge base particular to our Nursing specialty. Let the desire we have to give our patients the best possible care be our biggest motivator in continued education.

One of the biggest challenges we face as pediatric registered nurses is how to alleviate the fear and anxiety associated with getting an intravenous catheter or IV. As a pediatric nurse for over a decade, this RN has been witness to many different reactions when it comes to needle sticks. There is kicking, screaming, hiding in the bathroom, and the one that is truly heartbreaking is the genuine fear in the faces of our sweet little patients that we treat. The good news is that there are many options available to us as caregivers to help our patients get the treatment they need, while alleviating the fear and anxiety that may go along with it. Some of these options include, but are certainly not limited to, the use of topical lidocaine and involving your child life specialist for distraction. Ask any pediatric patient and they will tell you that topical lidocaine was their best friend during their hospital admission. Topical lidocaine is a three percent lidocaine cream that is used for anesthetic purposes to numb the skin. If you are not familiar with this medication, get familiar! Contact your hospital pharmacist and they will be able to provide specific side effects, absorption rates, along with precautions. When placed approximately one hour prior to the IV insertion, the skin becomes numb due to the properties of the lidocaine, and the child will not feel the "poke." We all know as healthcare professionals that things may happen without warning. You may find that you do not have that one-hour window to wait. In those cases, there is a fast-acting topical lidocaine that makes the skin numb in about half the time, approximately twenty to thirty minutes. Children that require chronic transfusions or repeated IV therapy will especially benefit from this medication because over time they learn that they can really trust that it will work, which will make subsequent visits less stressful. The Child Life Specialist is another very helpful tool to have at the bedside during an IV insertion. Child Life Specialists are pediatric healthcare professionals who work in conjunction with the patients, their families, and the nurses during the child's hospital stay. They are a great resource and should be utilized prior to any invasive or stressful procedure. The primary role of the Child Llife Specialist is to alleviate fear and anxiety in our patients when they come for treatment by utilizing age appropriate distractions and coping mechanisms. Who better to have at your side during an IV insertion! These Child Life Specialists will do anything in their power to help a child during a stressful situation. "I Spy" is a favorite, along with bubble blowing, and singing. In summary, there are many options available to us as pediatric nurses to alleviate the fear and anxiety associated with hospital stays and "sticks." Every child and situation is different and will provide their own set of challenges. It is up to us as healthcare professionals to be creative and compassionate advocates for our patients during their hospital stay. The pediatric population will present different and complex challenges due to their young age, inexperience and inability to reason at times.