Kangaroo Care as Analgesic for Preterm Infants Undergoing Heel Sticks
Publisher
The University of Arizona.Rights
Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.Abstract
More than half a million infants are born preterm each year in the United States. Preterm infants often undergo many painful procedures starting minutes after birth. A preterm infant may have as many as 10 painful procedures in a 24 hour period. The experience of pain leads to negative physiological responses, creating additional risks for the preterm infants' immediate and long-term health. Research demonstrates that infants are often undertreated for pain. Kangaroo care is a promising, non-pharmacologic analgesic, implemented as skin-to-skin contact between the infant and a caregiver. The purpose of this paper is to review relevant research about the use of kangaroo care as pain management for preterm infants, and to present a proposal for implementing and evaluating a best practice protocol for kangaroo care as an analgesic in a neonatal intensive care unit.Type
textElectronic Thesis
Degree Name
B.S.Degree Level
bachelorsDegree Program
Honors CollegeNursing