Recognizing how emotional distress, like anxiety, can interfere with patient rest and comfort, the nurses on the sixth floor at Parkview Regional Medical Center sought a solution that would improve patient moods while also helping them relax. We spoke with Kristen Emenhiser, BSN, RN, CMSRN, assistant nurse manager, about how she and her team piloted a project exploring the use of weighted blankets among hospital patients and what they learned.
What inspired this project?
I have been involved in the nursing clinical action team (NCAT) for almost every unit I have worked on since starting at Parkview. The goal of NCAT is to improve patient outcomes and staff satisfaction simultaneously. As someone who has worked on several floors with different patient populations and acuities, it has always been a personal goal of mine to find a project that could really make a difference in both areas.
As caregivers, we always look for ways to maximize our impact and the quality of time we spend with each patient. When we began this project, our team explored several options to improve the overall quality of life for our older medical-surgical (MedSurg) patients while also making the lives of our bedside nurses easier.
Sometimes, older adults, especially those who may experience confusion, anxiety or agitation, require more attention and reassurance. Balancing these needs across a five-patient assignment can also be emotionally challenging and time-consuming for the care team.
Weighted blankets had been on our radar as a popular way to help with anxiety for several years, and we'd even had patients and families requesting them from time to time. The NCAT team wanted to find a way to incorporate them into our patient population that would provide the greatest benefit for our patients and co-workers.
What were some of the more immediate and noticeable improvements you witnessed?
As a co-investigator, I assisted in collecting data on individual patient experiences while utilizing the weighted blanket. Some patients were familiar with the blanket and were excited about the possibility of trying one. Some patients had heard about a weighted blanket but had never used one before. Others had never heard of a weighted blanket but were willing to give it a try.
Patients rated their anxiety on a linear scale based on the length of time the blanket was in use. We took measurements before applying the blanket, 15 minutes after application, 30 minutes after application, and then at 60 minutes after application. We removed the blanket halfway through, so the final rating assessed the lasting effects of the blanket post-removal.
I was fortunate to be able to connect with these patients and see the almost immediate outcome of the blanket and their anxiety levels. For most patients, the benefits of the blanket were evident within the first 15 minutes and continued throughout the 60-minute measurement period.
What feedback have patients and their loved ones provided?
We collected responses from 30 patients for our study. The data is still being analyzed, but so far, over 85% of the participants agreed that the blanket helped with their anxiety for up to an hour after removal. The majority of the patients not only thought that they felt calmer but also looked like they were more comfortable and able to handle the anxiety that they were experiencing.
Most patients had positive comments about the blanket itself after application, remarking that the weight felt good on their body or that it was more comfortable than they had expected. Despite receiving overall encouraging feedback, weighted blankets are not a one-size-fits-all solution. A patient who was initially excited about trying the blanket requested that it be taken off pretty quickly after placement because it felt like a "dead body" on top of him. We had a pretty good chuckle about it because it wasn't something we expected to hear.
We also heard many other appreciative comments regarding Parkview's use of weighted blankets and support of the study. Several participants expressed hopes that they will be available as a permanent non-pharmacological way of handling anxiety during stressful times, such as during a hospitalization.
Final thoughts
Now that we have completed the initial 30-patient sample size for the project, we have modified the inclusion criteria to represent a larger number of patients. We hope to benefit a broader population and expand to another MedSurg floor at PRMC!
Want to learn more?
Join us for the 6th Annual Parkview Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Symposium on Thursday, November 13, at the Parkview Mirro Center for Research and Innovation. This year's theme is "From Paper to Practice: The Art of Implementation Science."
You will have the opportunity to see examples of the fascinating research conducted by talented Parkview nurses who will be present to share their insights. The event will feature a guest keynote speaker, poster and podium presentations, breakout sessions, and an interactive workshop. We encourage nurses who feel inspired to turn an idea into an exciting and engaging research project!