ABSTRACT
Pediatric nursing is deeply rooted in tradition and ritual. Although many practices remain relevant, others do not stand up to the challenge of an evidence-based nursing practice. Though intuition and tradition are important aspects of professional nursing practice, their incorporation into clinical practice can vary among practitioners. Although ample evidence to guide the practice of pain assessment and pain management in children exists, children remain undermedicated when compared to adults. This article explores the influence of practice traditions, personal bias, and the persistence of myths regarding pain in children on the practice of pain relief.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Pain/nursing , Pediatric Nursing , Child , Child, Preschool , Evidence-Based Medicine , Humans , Infant , Pain/physiopathology , Pain/psychology , Quality of Health CareABSTRACT
Nursing education in the United States has been and continues to be a slowly evolving process. For those involved in nursing education at the end of the 20th century, a brief trip back to the end of the 19th century--to chronicle some of the events of that time that have had an impact on nursing education today, and to review some of the accomplishments of our early nursing educators--makes for an interesting journey.
