Compact Clinical Guide to Infant and Child Pain Management: An Evidence-Based Approach for Nurses

Abstract

The Compact Clinical Guide to Infant and Child Pain Management is a lab coat–sized reference that provides the information needed to help manage pain in children. This book is one of a series of books focusing on pain management across the lifespan and across the continuum of care. It is appropriate for bedside clinicians, including advanced practice nurses, who may not specialize in pain management or palliative care nursing.The book is composed of 7 sections that focus on different components of pain management; each section has 2 to 4 chapters. The book starts with an overview of pain in infants and children, discussing the problems related to pain management in this age group, including undertreatment and long-term sequelae when pain is not managed. Appropriate tools and assessments for the various age groups are reviewed; figures include the different pain scales available.The second section addresses medications. Although Guide to Infant and Child Pain Management is not an in-depth pharmacology book, it contains sufficient information about the use of opioid and nonopioid medications for treatment as well as the use of coanalgesics to achieve pain control and to provide for safe care planning.Sections 3 and 4 discuss regional analgesia and nonpharmacologic methods of pain management, including both cognitive and physical approaches to pain management, respectively. Section 5 considers the multidisciplinary team, including the role of the parents. Sample tools are provided to help parents understand and assist in managing their child’s pain. Procedural pain and other common causes of pain such as postoperative or cancer pain are discussed in sections 6 and 7.The content of Guide to Infant and Child Pain Management is an overview; it is not exhaustive on the topic of pain management for this patient population. There are some tables with medications and dosages but certainly not in the same depth one would expect to understand medication interactions, side effects, or dosing regimens.This book does, however, cover the important topics, including care coordination within the interprofessional team to achieve good outcomes for patients and their families. It incorporates all of the components that must be considered in implementing successful pain management strategies and individualized care for infants and children. As an adjunct to other resources, Guide to Infant and Child Pain Management will help clinicians develop strategies and resources for staff, patients, and families.