Essential elements nurses have to address to promote a safe discharge in paediatrics: A systematic review and narrative synthesis

Rossi, S ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5924-6441, Hayter, M ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2537-8355, Zuco, A, Tappino, F, Tirone, R and Scelsi, S (2024) Essential elements nurses have to address to promote a safe discharge in paediatrics: A systematic review and narrative synthesis. Nursing Open, 11 (1). e2043. ISSN 2054-1058

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Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to synthesize the evidence on the essential elements, nurses must address when they perform therapeutic education to patients and their caregivers to promote a safe paediatric hospital-to-home discharge. Design: A systematic review and narrative synthesis. Methods: The search strategy identifies studies published between 2016 and 2023. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklists. The protocol of this review was not registered. A search of three electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL and Web of Science) and a search in the reference lists of the included studies was conducted in February 2021 and June 2023. Results: Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The essential elements identified are grouped into the following topics: emergency management, physiological needs, medical device and medications management, long-term management and short-term management. Nurses have a critical role in ensuring patient safety and quality of care, and the nurses' competence makes the difference in the discharge's related outcomes. Our results can help the nursing profession implement comprehensive discharge projects. Our results support the improvement of nurse-led paediatric discharge programmes. Nurse managers can identify the grey areas of therapeutic education provided in their units and work for their improvement. Following the implementation of therapeutic education on these topics, measuring the discharge's related outcomes could be interesting. This study addresses the problem of managing a safe and efficient nurse-led discharge in a paediatric setting. It presents evidence on the essential elements to promote a safe paediatric discharge at home. These could impact nursing practice by using them to implement project and discharge pathways. We have adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines—PRISMA guidelines for reporting systematic review. No patients, service users, caregivers or public members were involved in this study due to its nature (systematic review).