The relationship between behavioral cues and assessment of pain in the neonate

Abstract

Until recently, the neonate's ability to feel pain has been the subject of debate and controversy. Although most practitioners would agree that neonates experience pain, the assessment and treatment of neonatal pain remains inconsistent. Pain treatment with neonates is difficult because most pain assessment instruments are designed for an individual with verbal skills. A tool incorporating various behaviors as indicators of pain would provide a framework for assessing the response of the neonatal population to pain or other noxious stimuli as well. Nurses in the clinical setting of the neonatal intensive care unit have been faced with the difficulty of defending and validating their assessments of pain. When nursing measures fail to provide relief to the neonate, decisions regarding the need for pain medication or other non-pharmacologic interventions often rest with the nurse caring for the neonate. Without objective data, nursing assessments may go unheeded. A central goal of nursing is to provide comfort. The nurse must have tools for defending and validating their request for pain medication. In order to explore the relationship between behavioral cues and assessment of pain in neonates, a selected review of research literature and other scholarly work was conducted. Issues embodied in neonatal pain responses, measurement, and clinical considerations are explored. Suggestions for resolving some of these problems are presented.

Notes

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Thesis Completion

1998

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Giovinco, Gina

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)

College

College of Health and Public Affairs

Degree Program

Nursing

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Health and Public Affairs;Health and Public Affairs -- Dissertations, Academic

Format

Print

Identifier

DP0021523

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Document Type

Honors in the Major Thesis

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