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Nurses’ aims when managing pediatric postoperative pain: Is what they say the same as what they do?
Author(s) -
Twycross Alison,
Finley G. Allen
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal for specialists in pediatric nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1744-6155
pISSN - 1539-0136
DOI - 10.1111/jspn.12029
Subject(s) - pain management , medicine , pediatric nursing , postoperative pain , physical therapy , psychology , nursing , anesthesia
Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore nurses’ aims when managing postoperative pain and whether reported aims reflect actual practices. Design and Methods Participant observation was used to collect data regarding nurses’ ( n = 17) pain management practices. Nurses ( n = 19) were asked: When managing postoperative pain, what is your overall aim? Results Around half the participants ( n = 10) aimed for patients to be comfortable while others aimed for a pain score of 2–3 ( n = 7), or below 5 ( n = 2). Observed practices matched aims for just more than half the participants ( n = 9). Practice Implications There is evidence of individual variation in practices. This may impact on the care provided.