Central Methodist University
Madelyne Brand
Most parents of infants and children dread the frequent doctor visits in order to receive the essential vaccines and immunizations necessary. In most cases, the infants and children do not leave the health clinic happy or joyful. It is in the nurses’ best interest to make the painful and traumatic experience as pain free as possible for both parents and children. While healthcare improves in many ways from day-to-day, research is continually developing ways in which pain can be reduced for various ages. In a study performed in Philadelphia, Jordan, researchers evaluated the implementation of breastfeeding while infants receive immunizations …show more content…
Over 100 infants were chosen for the study and included the following criteria, “full-term, age between 1 and 12 months old, breast-feed, no concurrent illness” (Abdel Razek & AZ El-Dein, 2009, p. 100). Infants who were to be breastfed while receiving the immunizations were taken to a private room, where the infant’s clothes were taken off and soiled diapers changed, if need be (Abdel Razek & AZ El-Dein, 2009, p. 101). Mothers then cradled their infants and maintained skin-to-skin contact while breastfeeding (Abdel Razek & AZ-Dein, 2009, p. 101). This was continued before, during and after the immunizations took place. Alternatively, the infants who did not receive pain interventions were restrained by their mothers during the immunization and were provided no pain relief interventions(Abdel Razek & AZ El-Dein, 2009, p. …show more content…
It is difficult both as the nurse and parent to watch a child suffer during an ever fearing immunization check-up. Therefore, this study provides pediatric nurses interventions effective in reducing pain during required immunization injections. Nurses today should incorporate the use of skin-to-skin contact, along with rocking, holding and cuddling with their pediatric patients. Mothers’ comfort and contact provides both distraction and a feeling of comfort pediatric patients need during this difficult time. It is sometimes offered to pediatric patients the option to sit on their parents’ lap or on the exam table. Evidently, research proves contact with parental figures provides comfort and relief. In fact, researchers discovered a 17% crying reduction among infants who were held by their parents instead of an exam table (Abdel Razek & AZ El-Dein, 2009, p.