Case Study: A child having a routine pediatric appendectomy develops multiple complications, and instead of the usual 2 days spent in the hospital, the child is now in the second week of hospitalization. The surgeon is insisting that the mother go home and get a good night’s sleep as she has been staying with the child around the clock. Other staff members are commenting on how wonderful it is to have a parent remain overnight. You know your hospital has recently changed their visitation policy from limited hours with no overnight stays to that of open visitation to allow patients to have their family members and friends with them any time of the day or night.
As a nurse, you are concerned about both the patient and the mother. You wonder what is best for the child in regard to having the mother continue to stay overnight for the rest of the child’s hospitalization and the impact that has on the mother’s level of anxiety.
PICOT QUESTION: In parents of hospitalized children, how does staying overnight with the child compared with limited day visits affect parental level of anxiety?
Explain the purpose of the PICOT question.
Discuss whether or not you can change your PICOT question once you start searching the databases using the key words identified in it and why?
As an evidence-based practitioner, you are responsible for conducting a systematic and thorough search of the literature.
Discuss at least three strategies you will use to be sure you have conducted a thorough and systematic search?
