Date of this Version
12-1-2025
Document Type
DNP Project
Abstract
This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement (QI) project aimed to address the significant gap in caregiver comprehension and retention of postoperative care education for pediatric patients undergoing common outpatient ear, nose, and throat (ENT) procedures at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Standard verbal and written instructions alone have not been sufficient, leading to high volumes of postoperative phone calls to advanced practice providers (APPs) and unnecessary emergency department (ED) visits. This QI initiative involved developing and integrating multimedia educational videos into the preoperative and postoperative education process. The video was available in English, Spanish, and Creole and addressed the expected postoperative symptoms, red flags requiring medical attention, and at-home management strategies. The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework guided the design and implementation. Donabedian’s quality framework, focusing on the structure, process, and outcomes, and Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory provided the conceptual and theoretical foundation for this QI project. Quantitative data included evaluating the number of non-urgent postoperative calls and ED visits within 30 days postoperatively, comparing pre- and post-intervention. Qualitative data were gathered from the providers through surveys to assess their perception of clinic workflow and educational effectiveness. A thorough data analysis revealed a significant reduction of postoperative caregiver anxiety, improvement in at-home symptom management, and a decrease in unnecessary utilization of healthcare resources. The findings of this QI initiative support the broader adoption of multimedia-based education in pediatric surgical specialties, while prioritizing and improving patient safety, family-centered care, and health equity.
Recommended Citation
Marin Bornacelli, Sarah, "Improving Pediatric Postoperative Care: The Role of Multimedia Resources in Enhancing Patient and Parent Understanding and Outcomes After Common Ear, Nose, and Throat Outpatient Procedures—A Quality Improvement Project" (2025). Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing Student Projects. 378.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cnhs-studentprojects/378
Acknowledgments