Procedural Pain Management for the Early Childhood Patient:
A Multidisciplinary Concept Analysis of Pain
BLK, RN, BSN
The University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing

In partial fulfillment of the requirements of
N5327 Analysis of Theories in Nursing
Xxxx, xx
October 8, 2013

Procedural Pain Management for the Early Childhood Patient
Children presenting to the emergency department are often subjected to painful and anxiety-producing procedures, both for diagnostic purposes and for treatment of symptoms. Historically, pediatric patients have not been afforded the same level of care as adults with regard to the management of procedural pain. Pain in the young child age group (1-7 years) has often been under-treated, resulting in increased fear of the healthcare setting and postponement of necessary immunizations and procedures by the patients and parents.
Close examination of the concept of pain – specifically, procedural pain in the young child age group in the emergency department (ED) setting, is necessary for understanding how nursing practice may be improved in order to produce a more positive patient experience. A thoughtful review of current literature will provide insight into the concept of pediatric pain, permitting a detailed analysis. This analysis will assist in the formulation of theoretical and operational definitions of the concept for use in further study.
Review of Literature
A review of literature was conducted to compare and contrast views of the concept of pain across multiple disciplines. The disciplines chosen are nursing, psychology, and pharmacology due to their close multidisciplinary relationship regarding the concept, assessment, and treatment of pediatric procedural pain in the young child age group.
Nursing Discipline
Original research conducted by Nilsson, Hallqvist, Sidenvall, and Enskar (2011) explores