Behavioral and physiological indicators of procedural and postoperative pain in high-risk infants.
Nurses play a critical role in the assessment and management of infant pain. In this article, infant pain assessment tools that are valid, reliable, clinically sensitive, and developmentally appropriate are discussed. Their purpose, use in acute pain, and applicability for premature and newborn infant populations are described. Behavioral and physiological indicators of pain, sleep-wake states, and infant development are discussed as important considerations in pain assessment. Recommendations for improving pain assessment practices are offered in conclusion.
Beacham
Pamela S
PS
School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599-7640, USA. beacham@email.unc.edu
D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000592:standards; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000592:standards*; D009733:Nursing Diagnosis / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010146:Pain / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000451:nursing* / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014481:United States