Children With Developmental Disabilities at a Pediatric Hospital: Staff Education to Prevent and Manage Challenging Behaviors

Authors

Norah L. Johnson, Marquette UniversityFollow
Joel Lashley, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
Alice V. Stoneck, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
Annette Bonjour, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

8 p.

Publication Date

12-2012

Publisher

Elsevier

Source Publication

Journal of Pediatric Nursing

Source ISSN

0882-5963

Original Item ID

doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2012.02.009

Abstract

Children with developmental disabilities may get frustrated in unpredictable hospital environments. Frustration may escalate to challenging behaviors, which are a safety concern and may contribute to staff and patient injuries, use of restraints, and procedure delay or cancelations. The purpose of this article was to describe a pilot staff education program on preventing and managing challenging behaviors of children with developmental disabilities at a pediatric hospital. The 2-hour-long education (1 hour on-line and 1 hour instructor led) content focused on family-centered care and communication skills, including verbal judo™ modified for use in the health care setting. Participants in the instructor-led sessions reported improved knowledge and decreased fear about caring for children with developmental disabilities. Relationships of the education and fewer staff injuries, fewer canceled procedures, and decreased use of restraints merit further study.

Comments

Accepted version. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, Vol. 27, No. 6 (March 2012): 742-749. DOI. © 2012 Elsevier. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Johnson, Norah L.; Lashley, Joel; Stoneck, Alice V.; and Bonjour, Annette, "Children With Developmental Disabilities at a Pediatric Hospital: Staff Education to Prevent and Manage Challenging Behaviors" (2012). College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications. 117.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/nursing_fac/117