114: Ready to Level Up
32 min
Addressing Pre-Surgery Anxiety in Children
Millions of children worldwide experience significant anxiety when undergoing surgeries that require general anesthesia. A critical moment of stress often arises during anesthesia induction, particularly when a mask is placed on a child’s face. This can be a distressing experience not only for the child but also for parents and medical staff.
Innovative Approach to Anesthesia Induction
In this insightful episode of our podcast, Abby Hess, APRN, DNP, a nurse practitioner and researcher, shares her firsthand experiences with children in distress during the pre-surgery process. Abby discusses her innovative, Mary Poppins-level approach to rethinking the anesthesia mask as part of a calming and engaging game. This creative solution aims to shift the focus from fear to fun, significantly improving the surgical experience for young patients.
Collaboration and Mentorship in Medical Innovation
Abby also highlights the important role of collaborators and mentors who have supported her throughout her journey as an intrapreneur. Through teamwork and mentorship, Abby has sustained her commitment to developing a game that not only eases pre-surgery anxiety but also contributes to better post-surgery outcomes.
About See You Now Podcast
SEE YOU NOW is a podcast that shines a light on the real people changing the status quo in health: from nurses working in labor and delivery, with infectious diseases, and in hospice; to nurse allies in politics, business and tech. Created in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson and the American Nurses Association.
For more nursing innovation resources from ANA, visit https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/innovation/resources.
Have questions or feedback for the SEE YOU NOW team? Future episode ideas? Contact us at hello@seeyounowpodcast.com.
Resources
- Nurse Innovator Abby Hess Shares Story at Aspen Ideas: Health
- EZ Induction App
- Video game to calm young surgery patients invented by Cincinnati Children's nurse practitioner | WVXU
- Cincinnati Children’s nurse invents video game to reduce child anxiety over anesthesia masks
- Meet the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge Awardees
- For kids, going under anesthesia can be scary. This nurse made a video game to ease fears.
- Tech Talk with Dr Abby Hess
- Meet the ANA Nursing Innovation Team
- Cincinnati Children's Innovation Ventures
- Best practice & research clinical anesthesiology: Safety and quality in perioperative anesthesia care. Update on safety in pediatric anesthesia - ScienceDirect
- Research Progress on Risk Factors of Preoperative Anxiety in Children: A Scoping Review
- Epidemiology of Pediatric Surgery in the US
- Global Initiative for Children's Surgery
- Preoperative Anxiety in Children
- Pediatric Surgery Library
