<b>Characterization of pain management, as carried out by the nursing staff at a pedriatic intensive care unit</b> - DOI: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v7i0.6570

Abstract

Pain treatment is one the most present issues among patients hospitalized at a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). This work aims to characterize pain management as carried out by the nursing staff at PICUs. A survey was applied to nursing teams from two different hospitals, analyzing quantitatively their knowledge of pain management. The sample consisted of 35 nursing professionals – nursing technicians and nurses. Among the interviewed employees, 94.29% answered that it is important to routinely evaluate pain at the PICU, but 77.14% had never attended any training to evaluate pain in pediatrics. Twenty-seven participants said the presence of a patient companion at the PICU makes pain management evaluation easier. Most said they combine pharmacological with non- pharmacological strategies, and 94.29% evaluate the pain again after implementing different actions for pain relief. For the nursing staff interviewed, pain treatment at the PICU is important, contributing for the clinic stability of the patient, however, the staff has not shown to be able to carry out pain management. Continuous training by the nursing staff is needed, aiming to enable them to evaluate and treat pain at PICU to benefit the patients and contribute to the humanization of care.