Enhancing nurse recognition and intervention of caregiver fatigue in the pediatric intensive care unit: a quality improvement project.

Objective: This QI project aimed to enhance pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) staff's ability to recognize and compassionately respond to caregiver fatigue (CF), tailoring interventions to the specific needs identified.

Methods: An interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals developed and implemented a comprehensive strategy to improve the recognition and management of CF. This QI project included creating educational materials for staff, enhancing unit resources, and introducing targeted interventions. Data collection involved pre- and post-project surveys.

Results: The program led to significant improvements in PICU staff's confidence in recognizing and responding to CF, increased availability of unit resources, enhanced staff compassion, and reduced callousness toward others.

Conclusions: This QI project emphasized the role that structured initiatives and interdisciplinary collaboration can play in addressing CF within the PICU setting. Improvements in staff confidence, compassion, and reduced burnout demonstrate the program's effectiveness. These findings underscore the value of targeted interventions and provide a valuable framework for further research and can serve as a model for other healthcare units seeking to integrate CF management into comprehensive patient care.