Children's nurses' post-operative pain assessment practices

Donya Panjganj1, Ann Bevan1

  • 1Bournemouth University.

Insights

Effective pediatric pain management relies on accurate pain assessment. This review highlights nurses

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nursing
  • Pain Management
  • Healthcare Quality

Background:

  • Inadequate pain control in children can lead to significant short- and long-term adverse effects.
  • Studies indicate that children frequently experience unnecessary post-operative pain in hospital settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and analyze post-operative pain assessment practices employed by pediatric nurses.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search of relevant databases was conducted.
  • Specific inclusion criteria were applied to select pertinent studies.
  • Thematic analysis identified key areas of pain assessment.

Main Results:

  • Pain assessment tools were underutilized by nurses.
  • Children's behavioral pain cues were often misinterpreted.
  • Inconsistencies were noted in pain score documentation and communication among child, parent/carer, and nurse.

Conclusions:

  • Improving pediatric pain management requires addressing deficits in tool usage, interpretation of behavioral cues, documentation, and inter-professional communication.
  • Enhancing nursing practices in these areas can lead to better patient care and outcomes.

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