Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
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The effectiveness of pre-admission visits for children (and
their parents) undergoing day surgery.
Ann Cummins R.G.N., R.C.N., BSc, MSc, Diploma in Integrated
Computer Applications.
Lecturer Practitioner
Catherine McAuley School of Nursing & Midwifery,
Brookfield Health Sciences Complex
University College Cork
Tel: 353 (0)21 4901518
Email: a.cummins@ucc.ie
Maria O’Shea RGN, RCN, RNT, BSc (hons) PG Dip in Nurse
Education, MSc in Advanced Nursing Studies
Lecturer
Catherine McAuley School of Nursing & Midwifery,
Brookfield Health Sciences Complex
University College Cork
Tel: 353 (0)21 4901484
Email:maria.oshea@ucc.ie
Ann Kelleher RGN, RCN
Staff Nurse
St. Anne’s Children’s Ward
Mercy University Hospital
Te: 353 (0) 21 4271971
Background: Hospitalisation is stressful for both children and their
families. The literature suggests that the use of pre-admission visits
to wards helps to reduce the anxiety that comes with hospitalisation.
Having the reviewed this literature a pre admission programme was
developed for children (aged 3-9 years (and their parents) who were
scheduled for day surgery.
The development and implementation of a pre-admission visit for
children undergoing day surgery has been a very exciting venture
for both the researchers and staff in the hospital. There are only two
other hospitals in the Republic of Ireland that offer a similar type of
service for children. Having reviewed the literature and visiting and
liaising with the staff on these units, the researchers developed a
pre-admission visit that lasts one hour approximately. This visit
includes: a tour of the paediatric ward, meeting the staff on the
ward, viewing of a specifically prepared DVD which shows a little boy
and his mother coming to hospital for day surgery, gown up, visit
and meeting of theatre staff, visit and play in the playroom.
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