Preview
Creation Date
4-19-2016
Description
Pain is often under-diagnosed and undertreated among children. Statistics show that within a 3- month time span, 80% of children experience pain at least once, and a majority of children experience pain on a regular basis (Gorodzinsky, Bernacki, Davies, Drendel, & Weisman, 2012). These negative effects led to the following scholarly activity project question: What is the best method of non-pharmacological pain management for children between the ages of 6 and 12? Methods included conducting a literature review, a policy and procedure review, and observation of non-pharmacological pain management techniques in the clinical setting. Although the literature review provided several non-pharmacological interventions, the distraction technique was found to be the most utilized and effective evidenced-based practice. The selected distraction technique was based on the facility's policy, child's age, and nurse's preference. The policy & procedures and observations of distraction techniques were consistent with findings in the literature. Implications for nursing practice, education, and research were provided.