Degree Name
Nursing Practice, DNP
Publication Date
6-24-2025
First Advisor
Lisa Drake
Second Advisor
Kristie Givens
Abstract
Pediatric hematology-oncology patients undergo general anesthesia (GA) for various medical procedures, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Overexposure to GA increases the potential for long-term neurocognitive effects in pediatric patients. Despite the growing research literature on GA-related neurotoxicity and the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) warnings, advanced practice providers (APP) often lack the knowledge to advocate for and support reductions in pediatric GA use. The Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP) quality improvement (QI) project aimed to reduce unnecessary GA in pediatric hematology-oncology patients undergoing MRI scans by addressing the primary clinic APPs' knowledge deficits through interprofessional education (IPE). Structured in Lewin's Model of Change and Donabedian's Structure-Process-Outcome Model, the quasi-experimental project implemented a one-hour IPE session with a pre- and post-survey design. A five-point Likert scale pre- and post- surveys assessing APP's GA knowledge and perception were evaluated using a paired t-test design, finding a pre-survey mean of 72.15 (SD=11.34) and a post-survey mean of 92.10 (SD=6.33), t(19) =-9.35, p<.001, resulting in a statistically significant difference. Additionally, a retrospective quantitative analysis of electronic medical records (EMR) for MRI GA utilization rates demonstrated a 30% reduction in MRI GA use within one month of IPE intervention. The DNP project validates that targeted IPE can contribute to GA utilization reduction of MRI scans, achieving positive patient outcomes by enhancing clinical knowledge and influencing medical decision-making.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Turner, Rachel, "Quality Improvement Project Reducing Pediatric Anesthesia in Magnetic Resonance Imaging: The Role of Preparedness and Education" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 187.
https://arch.astate.edu/dnp-projects/187
