NURSING AT McLEAN
McLean nurses present at the APNA Conference
Lesley Adkison, Peggy Knight and Joan Kovach presented the results of their study "Sensory Stimulation: Managing Psychiatric Symptoms" at the American Psychiatric Nurses Association's 21st Annual Conference. The conference was held in Kissimmee Florida, October 3-6, 2007.
Development and execution of the sensory stimulation nursing research project was a combined effort among nurses at McLean Southeast and the Geriatric Neuropsychiatry Unit. The Behavioral Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was used as an objective measure to evaluate patient behaviors before and after interventions took place. For many of the RNs on both units, the study was a first venture into the world of nursing research and sparked additional ideas for future collaboration.
Results of the study indicated that sensory stimulation interventions were as effective as traditional interventions in managing anxiety and agitation in both general psychiatric and geriatric in-patients diagnosed with dementia. This information is important, in that we now have documented evidence that sensory interventions can be useful in working with distressed patients. In addition, the use of sensory tools is empowering to patients, giving them a portable and replicable means of self soothing during their hospitalization and after discharge. While sensory interventions led to significant changes in symptoms in both groups of patients, the geriatric patient group scores showed greater changes in overall behavior.
Joan, Peggy and Lesley joined over 1000 psychiatric nurses from around the country who attended the annual conference. During the conference psychiatric RNs joined together to share expertise and dialogue about pertinent topics in mental health nursing. There were over 60 individual presentations. Topics included psychopharmacology, sleep, trauma, emergency care, violence, and nursing education.