Discharge education practices vary among institutions and lack a standardized approach for newly diagnosed pediatric oncology patients and their parents. Michelle Burke, MSN, APRN, CPON, BMTCN, represented Nicklaus Children's Hospital in this American Nurses Credentialing Center–supported pediatric multisite trial to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of 2 nurse-led Parent Education Discharge Support Strategies (PEDSS) for families with a child who is newly diagnosed with cancer.
The study included a cluster randomized clinical trial design assigned 16 Magnet-designated sites to a symptom management PEDSS intervention or parent support and coping PEDSS intervention. This study is among the first to examine the effects of 2 different early-discharge planning strategies for families of a newly diagnosed child with cancer. The evidence supports a standardized discharge education strategy that can be successfully implemented across institutions. Nurses play a major role in the educational preparation and discharge of newly diagnosed pediatric cancer patients and their families.