Pediatric Pain Management

Overview

Pediatric pain management involves a multidimensional assessment based on the child's developmental level and clinical condition. Because children may lack the vocabulary to describe pain, nurses must rely on standardized behavioral and self-report scales. Effective management requires a combination of pharmacological interventions and age-appropriate non-pharmacological comfort measures.

Key nursing concepts

• Pain is whatever the experiencing person says it is.
• Behavioral scales are used for infants and non-verbal patients.
• Self-report is the gold standard for children who are developmentally able.
• Multi-modal analgesia combines opioids with non-opioids for better relief.
• Non-pharmacological strategies include distraction and imagery.
• Effective pain management promotes faster recovery and reduces trauma.

Important nursing considerations

• Use the Wong-Baker FACES scale for children aged 3 and older.
• Assume a procedure is painful for a child if it would be painful for an adult.
• Administer analgesics around the clock rather than PRN for continuous pain.
• Utilize sucrose solutions for procedural pain in infants.
• Assess physiological signs like tachycardia and tachypnea in non-verbal children.
• Monitor for respiratory depression when administering opioid analgesics.

Patient teaching

• Explain that crying is a normal response to pain and not a sign of 'being bad.'
• Teach parents how to use the specific pain scale used in the hospital for home care.
• Instruct caregivers to report side effects like extreme sleepiness or itching immediately.
• Encourage parents to remain with the child during painful procedures for support.

Related practice questions

Real questions from the NursGuru bank, each with the answer and rationale.

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Pediatric Pain Management flashcards

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