Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

• Committee Chair Name & Credentials:
  Jessica Walker, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
• Committee Member Name & Credentials:
  Karen Hande, PhD(c), DNP, ANP-BC, CNE, FAANP, ANEF

DNP Project Abstract

Policy Development for the Use of Virtual Reality in Pediatric Burn Patients

Purpose
Burn wound care is painful, often undertreated, and carries lasting physical and psychological consequences. Virtual reality has been found to have a positive effect on the pain experienced by pediatric patients undergoing burn wound care. The purpose of this project was to create and evaluate an evidence-based policy for the use of virtual reality for inpatient pediatric patients undergoing burn wound care.

Methods
This healthcare policy project translated evidence into a policy for the use of virtual reality during burn wound care with pediatric patients admitted to the hospital. Burn unit staff performed a standardized evaluation of the proposed policy draft using items from the Health-related Policy Analysis Tool (HrPAT). Participant feedback informed the usability of the policy and guided policy revisions.

Results
Three staff members completed data collection. The HrPAT domain score percentages were 94.44% for domain one (context), 94.44% for domain two (process), 94.44% for domain three (content), 61.11% for domain four (stakeholder consultation), 69.44% for domain five (implementation), and 94.44% for domain six (evaluation).  Policy revisions focused on the two lowest scoring domains.

Implications for Practice
The resulting policy for the use of virtual reality in pediatric patients undergoing burn wound care appears to be the first of its kind based on a review of the literature. The policy will guide implementation of virtual reality for patients in this unit and eventually the organization.