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When it comes to pediatric patients undergoing venipuncture, it should be every phlebotomist's top goal to reduce these children's fear, pain, and distress. Almost all children have a natural fear of needles, but studies show that age is a significant factor in how they behave, their level of distress, fear, and perception of pain.
When a child's level of distress in anticipation of the venipuncture procedure is on the rise, it can be a rather difficult task for the phlebotomist and parent to make the blood collection process go over smoothly! It should come as no surprise that the use of physical restraint, such as the child being placed on the parent's lap, and tightly held down, will only add fuel to the fire, and increase the child's negative response and psychological suffering.
Physically restraining a fearful child during the venipuncture procedure is in no way an ideal situation and could be a disaster in the making! Rather, when dealing with a fearful child, it is best to try to control fearful rejection and manage defensive behavior through parental coaching, distraction, and positive reinforcement.
Distraction during painful procedures were proven to serve as an effective means of intervention. Therefore, a considerate phlebotomist will proceed by incorporating gentle touch and speaking in a soft voice while coaching, distracting, and comforting the upset child. Toys and sounds can also be effective and practical means to reduce a child's fear, and this, in turn, will also ease the parent's anxiety. Parents should also be encouraged to participate in the preparation of the child in a meaningful manner. It has a positive impact on the child if the parent remains cool, calm, and collected, uses encouragement, positive reinforcement, and appropriate distraction techniques. The parent's location, i.e. where the parent is in the room in relation to the child, can also make a significant difference when it comes to gaining the child's trust and cooperation.
Interestingly, although the above mentioned is a very simple approach to greatly reduce a child's distress, and the parent's and phlebotomist's anxiety and stress during venipuncture, it is not always routinely used everywhere there is blood to be drawn! If you are among those phlebotomists who want to grow personally and professionally, and learn how to better handle such and other challenges related to drawing blood from children and adolescents visit NBCI PubMed!
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2 comments:
WHAT IF THIS TYPE APPROACHED DOES NOT WORK AND THE CHILD NEEDS HIS/HER BLOOD DRAWN, WHAT DO YOU DO? AND SOME TIMES PARENTS ARE VERY UNCOOPERATIVE AND MAKE THE SITUATION HARDER THEN IT HAS TO BE, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?
Alot of times you do just have to use restraint and get it done. Some offices have LET solution, topical anesthetic that could be applied prior. Having the area numbed can ease the stress and sicomfprt.
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