Pediatric nurses' postoperative pain management practices: An observational study

PURPOSE: This study was an in-depth examination of pediatric postoperative pain care. DESIGN AND METHODS: Participant observational data were collected on the care of 10 children. Particular attention was paid to actions when pain scores were ≥5 and to the relationship between pain scores and medications administered. RESULTS: A pattern of care emerged of giving pain medications regularly even if they were prescribed pro re nata. Actions when pain scores were ≥5 varied. Recorded pain scores rarely guided treatment choices. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The use of pain scores to guide treatment choices needs further debate. Future research should explore the implications of divorcing treatment from pain scores on children's pain experience.