title: Oh, Suzanna! A nursing challenge.
abstract: Suzie, a ten year old child well known on our pediatric neuroscience ward at a children's hospital in British Columbia, was admitted in August 1991 for continuing seizures and unmanageable behaviour after her fourth epilepsy surgery. She was to remain with us for a total of nine months. Very soon, it became apparent that we had an untenable situation on the ward. On the one hand, seizure control was poor and Suzie required hospitalization to adjust her medications and to treat frequent episodes of status epilepticus. On the other hand, her behaviour was seriously disruptive to other patients and staff, as well as presenting a safety concern. Negative behaviours fell into three categories--disinhibition, aggression and hyperactivity. Through slides and video tape, we will introduce Suzie and describe the progression of her disease. We will discuss, using a Nursing Case Management Model, how we took over her care, accessed community resources and eventually even accompanied her to Montreal for a right hemispherectomy. The "Suzie Experience" forced administration and staff to devise creative solutions and empowered nurses on the ward to implement new and unique strategies.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balayewich
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasson
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing* / Q000601:surgery