Promoting Atraumatic Care of Hospitalized Children through Evidence-Based Nursing Interventions

Procedural pain is prevalent among hospitalized children from birth to adolescence (Cohen, Cousins, & Martin, 2014). Historically, pain-relieving interventions for pediatric patients have been under-utilized (Taddio, 2014). Pain in children, is more than a needle stick, it is a body and mind experience that can result in routine procedures turning into traumatic events. Healthcare providers have a responsibility, and passion, to assess, treat, and re-assess pain. The Institute of Medicine’s, “Crossing the Quality Chasm”, (2001) The Institute for Heath Improvement’s (IHI) Triple Aim, (2017) and The Joint Commission, (2017), all point to the necessity of meeting patient’s individualized needs and goals. This paper seeks to integrate evidence based recommendation into the nursing care of hospitalized children undergoing painful procedures to lessen trauma associated with these procedures. A need exists to translate research into practical, efficient ways to provide atraumatic care at the bedside. This paper will provide recommendations for developmentally appropriate, evidence based interventions to fulfill the mission of providing care of the highest quality while meeting the needs of the vulnerable patients. The use of developmentally appropriate, evidence-based, practical, cost effective nursing interventions for procedural pain relief serves to ensure a decrease in the negative effects of procedural pain. Keywords: atraumatic care, pediatric, pain, non-pharmacologic, distraction, child developmen