Pediatric Pain Management: An Evidence-Based Approach

Abstract

Numerous studies have shown that in comparison to adults, children do not receive analgesia (oligoanalgesia) and are not adequately treated for pain. Several organizations, including The Joint Commission and Institute of Medicine (IOM) have emphasized patients' rights to pain management and the need for initial assessment and ongoing evaluation. Nurses are responsible for assessing patients' pain and implementing appropriate pain management in the emergency department (ED). Evidence suggests that nurses' lack of knowledge about pain assessment in children contributes to inadequate pain management. Studies also show that the use of pain assessment tools appropriate to a child's age and cognitive development play a vital role in improving pain assessment documentation, prompting nurses to provide pain medication. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to improve nurses' assessment and management of children's pain in an emergency department. A total of 1,200 EMRs of pediatric patients ages 3 months to 6 years of age were reviewed before and after an educational intervention (600 before and 600 after the intervention). Pain education for ED nurses improved pain assessment and management among children.