Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Lisa Van Getson, APRN, DNP, FNP-C

Second Advisor

Joyce P. Miller, DNP, RN

Third Advisor

Michelle Ullery, DNP, APRN, CNP

Abstract

Burns can be devasting trauma in the pediatric population, leading to lifelong physical and psychological pain and anxiety. Burn pain management is complicated and undertreated traditionally. The purpose of this scholarly project is to examine the use of virtual reality (VR) for distraction in pediatric patients who have experienced a burn to determine if VR improves pain management during painful procedures. A literature review revealed a gap in pain management in pediatric burn survivors with just traditional pharmacologic analgesia during painful procedures. Leininger’s Culture Care Theory provides a theoretical framework for this project’s purpose to determine if implementing a virtual reality distraction program will assist pediatric burn survivors in managing pain, thereby improving psychological well-being. A partnership with an urban outpatient burn clinic was cultivated, and a Virtual Reality program was created and implemented within an outpatient burn clinic setting. Virtual reality distraction intervention was conducted during painful procedures in an outpatient setting, and evaluation was conducted following the intervention. The results of the project and evaluation revealed that virtual reality distraction is an effective non-pharmacological adjunct in reducing procedural pain for pediatric burn survivors.

Identifier

SC 11.DNP.2023.Hinrichs.T

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