MEDICATING CHILDREN IN PAIN: A JOINT EXERCISE BETWEEN EMERGENCY PERSONNEL
Author
Drejza, Barbara JoanMarieIssue Date
2024Advisor
Goldsmith, Melissa
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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
This service learning thesis was informed by a literature review, University of Arizona Emergency Services guidelines and expert consultation to design a curriculum to explore and address inadequate prehospital pain management in pediatric patients, emphasizing the emotional, clinical, and systemic challenges faced by EMS providers. Jeruzal et al. (2019) identified the emotional strain pediatric cases place on EMS providers, particularly when managing distressing pain in children and their families. These emotional burdens were compounded by the technical difficulties of managing pediatric trauma and pain, highlighting the need for enhanced training, better feedback systems, and recovery processes. Similarly, Holmström et al. (2019) underscored the emotional and logistical barriers experienced by prehospital nurses in pediatric care, especially regarding pain assessment, caregiver reactions, and heavy workloads. Both studies stressed the necessity of tailored training programs, reflection and repetition of local administrative guidelines, and emotional resilience strategies to improve care quality for sick children and overall provider well-being when reflecting on pediatric calls. Eimer et al. (2023) presented a quantitative analysis revealing significant disparities in prehospital pain management between pediatric trauma and non-trauma patients--indicating that children are not adequately medicated for pain. The study found that both children with traumatic complaints and medical complaints were not adequately medicated, but children with medical complaints reported even worse pain scales upon assessment to a significant extent, indicating medication under dosage (Eimer et al., 2023). This gap was partly attributed to provider hesitancy regarding opioid use in children, with ketamine being preferred but still used scantly for its perceived safety. This review collectively suggests that targeted training, improved guidelines, and comprehensive emotional and clinical support systems are essential for enhancing pediatric pain management practices. The curriculum developed for, and presented to prehospital providers integrates these insights, offering a practical solution to bridging the knowledge gap and supporting EMS teams in addressing pediatric pain effectively, with attention to both the emotional and technical aspects of care.Type
Electronic Thesistext
Degree Name
B.S.N.Degree Level
bachelorsDegree Program
NursingHonors College