Neonatal procedural pain: a survey of nursing staff

This study explored aspects of neonatal procedural pain and its assessment and management by nursing staff working in neonatal units. Twenty-one neonatal nursing staff from three units were surveyed. They were all grade D or above and had between one and 15 years' experience with neonates. A self-completion questionnaire was used to investigate attitudes to neonatal pain, pain assessment approaches and pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods used. Staff underestimated the pain caused by procedures. Pain assessment tools were used by 48 per cent of respondents and pharmacological methods of pain management were rarely used. Non-nutritive sucking was used by 66 per cent of respondents but other methods of non-pharmacological management were under-utilised. The use of pain protocols may be beneficial in increasing administration of analgesia and use of non-pharmacological methods of relief for procedure-related pain. Education is also required about analgesics and their use in neonates.