Issues in comprehensive pediatric nursing
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Issues Compr Pediatr Nurs · Jan 1991
Nursing actions to prevent and alleviate pain in hospitalized children.
Nurses are confronted daily with the responsibility to care for hospitalized children in pain, yet the substantive knowledge base about that care and how effective it is remains extremely limited. Although there is initial evidence of effectiveness of several pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic pain relief approaches, little evidence of use or effectiveness in clinical nursing practice exists. To begin to address this knowledge deficit, two studies conceptualized within Orem's (1991) general theory of nursing were undertaken: one involving ethnographic interviews to determine what pain relief actions are taken by nurses with recognized expertise in caring for children in pain and another, follow-up survey to examine the frequency with which these actions are used by general nursing staff. ⋯ From interviews with the nurse experts both specific actions and action patterns and themes were identified. Furthermore, these patterns were congruent with methods of helping used by nurses as described by Orem. Results of this research currently serve as the basis for development and testing of nursing action protocols for alleviation of pain in hospitalized children.
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Issues Compr Pediatr Nurs · Apr 1990
Comparative StudyA comparison of mothers' and fathers' perceptions of caring for an infant requiring home cardio-respiratory monitoring.
The purpose of this study was to compare (a) what fathers and mothers considered stressful about caring for a cardio-respiratory monitored infant at home and (b) how they coped with this experience. Twenty-three father and mother pairs with infants currently receiving or having received home cardio-respiratory monitoring within the past six months were interviewed in their homes. ⋯ Fathers and mothers described similar stressors and coping strategies. Differences existed in how fathers and mothers interpreted these stressors and the type of strategies used.
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Much controversy exists today regarding the "salvaging" of high-risk infants. There are many ethical concerns surrounding these children. The advancement of technology has had a profound effect on the treatment of preterm infants or infants with deformities. ⋯ The article begins with an overview of the history of infanticide as well as the history of neonatal intensive care units. Financial and legal issues are also discussed. In addition, the nurse's role in working with high-risk infants and their families is briefly explored.
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The seriously ill or terminally ill child with cancer has received inadequate pain control in the past, partly due to physicians' and nurses' fears and misconceptions regarding the administration of effective pain medications to a child. Advances in assessment techniques in the infant and young child, as well as increasing use of pain assessment questionnaires and VAS in the older child, have mandated changes in administration of analgesia to children. ⋯ The goal of therapy for the dying child is to maintain comfort and support the child and the family. Providing analgesia in the hospital or the home has proven safe and effective when administered either orally or parenterally, and comfort of the child is achieved.