Episode 114: Ready to Level Up

32 min listen

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 highlighting the innovative and human centered solutions that nurses are coming up with to solve for today’s most challenging, healthcare problems, created in collaboration with Johnson and Johnson and the American Nurses Association and hosted by nurse, economist and health tech specialist, Shawna Butler.

Resources

Transforming Healthcare: Discover the Future Today with See You Now

Dive into our latest episodes where innovation meets care. Hear from the changemakers reshaping healthcare for all of us.