Ventilator Awareness Pamphlet

Ventilator Awareness Pamphlet for School Teachers

Project Description

The purpose of this project is to educate school teachers about ventilators. The goal of the project is to provide an easily accessible and understandable educational resource for teachers with ventilator dependent children in their classrooms. A ventilator awareness pamphlet will be created and distributed to school teachers with ventilator dependent children in their classrooms. The teacher will then be able to refer to this pamphlet if they have any questions regarding ventilators throughout the school year. The pamphlet will be solely educational. It will contain information such as “What is a ventilator,” as well as important items to remember in a school setting such as washing your hands to prevent the spread of infection (“Respiratory,” 2002). The pamphlet will be in full color and include pictures of ventilators. The pamphlet will not discuss how to care for the child or the ventilator, that is the responsibility of the nurse caring for the child. This pamphlet will be solely educational and will not teach the school teachers how to perform skilled procedures.

Through my experience and as I have spoken with teachers who have ventilator dependent children in their classrooms, I have determined that there is a need for education among school teachers regarding ventilators. Teachers have expressed fear and anxiety about having such a child in their classroom. The main reason for their fear and anxiety is lack of knowledge regarding ventilators. I explained to one teacher that a ventilator assists someone with breathing. She replied, “Oh, is that what it does?” As teachers are educated and learn more about ventilators, they will be less afraid and more able to assist the child with their educational needs. The outcome of the project will be decreased anxiety for teachers because of increased knowledge.
     With advances in technology and nursing care, children who would otherwise be hospital bound are able to live at home and attend public school (Inselman, 2004). During the 1999-2000 school year there was one child on a ventilator in the state of Utah. In the 2000-2001 school year there were five children on ventilators (Green, 2004). I personally know of four children who are on ventilators attending public school in Weber and Davis Counties. The number of ventilator dependent children attending public school continues to rise. 
     My role in this project is to research, plan, and create a ventilator awareness pamphlet. The role of my mentor, Kathy Sitzman, is to advise and support me throughout the process as well as review my work. This project would be classified as independent along the research continuum. 
     I am a registered nurse currently enrolled in the Bachelor’s of Nursing program at Weber State University. I have been employed as a pediatric home health nurse for the past two years. I care for children who are ventilator dependant at home and at school. I am knowledgeable and proficient in ventilator care. Creating an educational resource is within my scope of practice.
     The product of my research will be a ventilator awareness information pamphlet that will be given to school. There are several school nurses who would like a copy of the pamphlet when it is finished. This project will be shared publicly during the fall semester of the 2004-2005 school year in front of other nursing colleagues. The results of my project will be presented to school teachers with ventilator dependent children in Weber and Davis counties as well as to the Weber County Special Education nurse, Cathy Cardon. I will also apply to present my project during the annual WSU Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Project Methods and Timeline
The process and methods for the completion of the ventilator awareness pamphlet are described below.

This project does not need approval of the WSU Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects or the Animal Care and Use Committee.

Project Budget

            I am only requesting undergraduate research funds to cover cost associated with printing the ventilator awareness pamphlet. Equipment used such as a computer, ink and paper will be covered through personal funds. I am not asking for student travel or a student stipend. See budget sheet for exact material costs.

NOTE – Equipment and left-over materials purchased with this grant will remain the property of WSU

References

Green, C. E. (2004). School nurse activities in Utah. Retrieved October 6, 2004, from http://www.utsna.org/HTML/activities.html

Inselman, L. (2004). Caring for a child dependent of medical technology. Retrieved September 10, 2004, from Primary Children’s Medical Center Web site: http://www.primarychildrens.com

Respiratory home health. (2002). Retrieved September 10, 2004, from http://www.aarc.org/patient_education/tips/home.html