Pediatric Pain Management
Pediatric pain management An individualized, multimodal, and interprofessional approach is key for success. By Sharon Wrona, DNP, PMGT-BC, CPNP, PMHS, AP-PMN, FAAN, and Michelle L. Czarnecki, MSN, PMGT-BC, CPNP, AP-PMN ACCORDING to the Healthcare Cost and Uti- lization Project, more than 5,000,000 children in the United States had a hospital stay in 2017. Many of them experienced some type of pain. Pain has an immense impact on the mind and body. In addition to the physical sensation of pain, effects include emotion- al suffering, pulmonary complications, de- creased mobility, poor sleep, immune impair- ment, reduced quality of life, economic costs, and a potential for developing persistent (chronic) pain syndromes. Despite advances in care, many children continue to experience significant pain because of undertreatment and inadequate pain management after surgery. Sparing children the short- and long-term ef- fects of pain requires early recognition and CNE 1.4 contact treatment. hours Nurses are critical to pain prevention, recog- nition, and treatment in children. They’re with LEARNING O BJECTIVES patients more than any other healthcare pro- 1. Identify strategies for assessing pain in children. fessionals and have the opportunity to assess 2. Discuss nonpharmacologic pain interventions for children. pain throughout their shift. When pain is diag- 3. Describe pharmacologic pain interventions for children. nosed, the nurse can start planning which in- The authors and planners of this CNE activity have disclosed no relevant terventions are most appropriate for individual financial relationships with any commercial companies pertaining to this patients. After interventions are implemented, activity. See the last page of the article to learn how to earn CNE credit.
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