Abstract
Background and Aim: Painful procedures are the most common and obvious reasons for pain in hospitalized infants. Guidelines for the management of pain have been introduced in neonatal care, both internationally and in a number of countries, including Sweden. The aim of this survey was to investigate if nurses at neonatal units (NICUs) in Sweden had adopted the national guidelines in situations where neonates are exposed to painful procedures.
Method: A semi-structured survey was sent to a sample of nurses at all Swedish NICUs. The respondents were asked how they in the clinical situation would treat a number of painful situations chosen from a list in the Swedish national guidelines.
Results: 116 surveys (65 %) were returned. The nurses had a median neonatal experience between 8 and 11 years. They also reported that they had done 10-15 venepunctures/nurse the previous month. Though respondents from all units reported that the unit had written guidelines, 10 % of the nurses were not aware of this. Almost all nurses would provide behavioural support before painful procedures. The most common intervention was to give 30 % glucose solution orally. When compared to a previous survey to head nurses at the same units, a lower use of glucose prior to the interventions was reported by the staff nurses.
Conclusion: All units have adopted neonatal pain guidelines. Behavioural support is given prior to painful procedures but not in all situations and not fully compliant with the guidelines.
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Eriksson, M., Scherman, E., Johansson, L. et al. Procedural Pain in Neonates: Do Nurses Follow National Guidelines? A Survey to Swedish Neonatal Units. Pediatr Res 70 (Suppl 5), 644 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2011.869
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2011.869