Managing Children with Behavioral Health Issues Presenting to the ED

Contact Hours: 1.5

Author(s):

Ashley Kellish DNP, RN, CCNS

Course Overview

Recent data shows that the number of children with behavioral health issues seeking help from our nation’s emergency departments (ED) has increased tremendously since 2007 (7).

With this increase comes the need for our ED teams to be prepared for how best to manage these visits and ensure patient safety.  In the 2019 National Pediatric Readiness Project, it was identified that less than half of our nation’s EDs are “ready” to care for pediatric patients — adding the mental health factor on top of this only makes it more of a challenge (1).

Course Outline

  1. Introduction
  2. An ED Nurse’s Role in Treating Children with Behavior Health Issues
  3. Pediatric Readiness Assessment
  4. Devising a Plan for Change for Children with Behavioral Health Issues in the ED
  5. Collaboration of Caregivers to Provide Optimal Care
  6. Case Study
  7. Conclusion

Course Outcomes

After completing this course, the learner will rate 4 out of 5 on the Likert Scale for their ability to:

  1. Recognize the increase in pediatric mental health visits to EDs and the unique needs these patients have.
  2. Define the nurse’s role in response to pediatric mental health admissions.
  3. Devise a plan to improve their ED’s response to pediatric patients with behavioral health needs.

Accreditations and Approvals

CE Credit Logo
  • American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) (P0614)
  • California Board of Registered Nursing (CEP 17418)
  • Kentucky Board of Nursing (7-0090)
  • Louisiana State Board of Nursing (58)
  • Florida Board of Nursing (50-23983)
  • Delaware Board of Nursing (DE-24-010127)
  • Alabama Board of Nursing (#ABNP1577)
  • Iowa Board of Nursing (#393)
  • Kansas Board of Nursing (LT0340-0325)

Approved by the Board of Nursing in every state, you can complete your RN, LVN, and APRN CEUs with confidence.

Accreditation Statement

Nursing CE Central LLC is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

It will take the average learner 90 minutes to complete and awards 1.5 contact hours of continuing education.

Written For

  • Registered Nurses (RN)
  • Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN)
  • Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN/LVN)

Requirements for Completion

  1. Enrollment in the course by the learner
  2. Read and learn all course materials
  3. Complete the course evaluation
  4. Attest and testify learning of the course materials

Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships

Nursing CE Central nor any of the authors, planners, content experts, or any contributors have any relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.