Seizure Precaution Implementation and Management Policy and Procedure

Seizures may produce changes in an individual's awareness or sensation, cause involuntary movements, or produce other changes in behavior (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). Seizures happen episodically and are usually unpredictable, which can result in adverse consequences such as injuries, seizure emergencies, and even death (Shafer et al., 2012). Enhancing the safety of those patients at risk for seizures is an important aspect of their treatment due to their increased risk for injuries (Shafer et al., 2012). Full implementation of an evidence-based seizure precaution management protocol may decrease seizure related injuries (Spanaki et al., 2012). No standardized seizure precaution policy existed at this large 489-bed Central Minnesota hospital. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project was to create a standardized seizure precaution policy based on evidencebased practice and best practice recommendations, ensuring that the hospital staff at this large Central Minnesota Hospital were educated on and provided the expected measures for those patients at risk for seizures and seizure related injuries. Similar to other studies, this quality improvement project's pre-survey showed a wide variety of answers selected when the registered nurses were asked what supplies should be included at the bedside for those patients on seizure precautions. The post-survey showed an improvement in the correctly selected necessary supplies at the bedside, however additional unnecessary items were also selected. By creating a standardized seizure precaution policy and evaluation tools, this large Central Minnesota hospital increased the staff's knowledge about seizures and what supplies and actions are necessary when a seizure precaution order is placed in the patient's electronic medical record. However, additional research is needed to see if by standardizing seizure precautions and providing hospital staff knowledge, patient safety outcomes improve.