Pediatric nurses' postoperative pain management practices: an observational study.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

This study was an in-depth examination of pediatric postoperative pain care.

DESIGN AND METHODS:

Participant observational data were collected on the care of 10 children. Particular attention was paid to actions when pain scores were ≥5 and to the relationship between pain scores and medications administered.

RESULTS:

A pattern of care emerged of giving pain medications regularly even if they were prescribed pro re nata. Actions when pain scores were ≥5 varied. Recorded pain scores rarely guided treatment choices.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS:

The use of pain scores to guide treatment choices needs further debate. Future research should explore the implications of divorcing treatment from pain scores on children's pain experience.

• Authors: Alison Twycross, G Allen Finley, Margot Latimer
• Journal: Journal for specialists in pediatric nursing : JSPN (J Spec Pediatr Nurs) Vol. 18 Issue 3 Pg. 189-201 (Jul 2013) ISSN: 1744-6155 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23822843 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2013, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Analgesics

Topics

• Adolescent
• Analgesics (therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child, Hospitalized
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Infant, Newborn
• Male
• Pain Measurement (nursing)
• Pain, Postoperative (drug therapy, nursing)
• Pediatric Nursing (methods)