Pharmacological prevention and management

Abstract

Effective pain management stems from the use of a multi-method approach and it must be remembered that for the child their pain may result not only from the original disease/illness but also from the many invasive and traumatic procedures that they encounter. Pain management must attempt to ensure that pain from all sources is eliminated or reduced. Effective pain management should involve a multi-method approach. One child, for example, may find that their pain is relieved by the use of a combination of appropriate doses of opioid analgesia, relaxation techniques and massage. Alternatively another child may find benefit and derive pain control from the use of oral analgesia and distraction techniques. The situation where the nurse relies solely on the child’s drug sheet for pain management is long gone and the nurse caring for the child should encourage the use of the techniques that the child and family know and trust as well as offering new approaches. Obviously nurses must be skilled and knowledgeable in all forms of pain management and should never attempt to utilize a strategy that lies outside their experience and competence. However, whilst the place of distraction, imagery, touch, massage, hypnosis and other forms of supportive or complementary care cannot, and should not, be denied, the appropriate use of pharmacological methods of pain management is of crucial importance. An essential part of the pharmacological management of the child’s pain lies in delivery of skilful nursing care. Nurses involved in the administration of drugs for the relief of pain should have a sound underpinning knowledge not only of how the drugs work, what interactions should be considered, possible side-effects and contraindications but also the effects of the maturation on the disposition of the drug given.