Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and community
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Clinical audit is a valuable tool in the drive towards quality. Day-case surgery is designed to keep children within their families. ⋯ A telephone call following day-case surgery appears to give parents effective support. Children experience few problems immediately following day-case surgery.
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Earlier discharge following tonsillectomy increases the need for good pain management advice and effective analgesia. An audit determined the nature of children's pain experiences at home following tonsillectomy and identified pain management strategies used. ⋯ Pain could worsen following discharge, persist for three to ten days and be at times moderate to severe. 50% of parents contacted their GP and 75% of children required paracetamol and ibuprofen concurrently. Audit data was utilised to develop comprehensive written pain management advice and a discharge protocol for combined analgesia.
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Pain is an inevitable consequence following day surgery, but with effective regular pain relief minimal discomfort can be achieved. An information leaflet produced by a pain nurse specialist in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team ensures that comprehensible and non-contradictory information is given to parents. With the increased trend towards paediatric day surgery parents are significant contributors to their child's care in the postoperative period. Written information on pain relief after discharge can help parents make decisions about their child's pain management.
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Play is recognised as an essential component of a child's life. Playing with children in hospital can aid nurses in assessing, communicating and providing nursing care. ⋯ Play can benefit children, health carers and parents in the hospital setting. Play workshops encourage children's nurses to view play as an integral part of their role.