NCLEX-PN

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○ Non-Nutritive Sucking : Allowing infants to suck on a pacifier or their thumb can have a calming and pain-reducing effect. ○ Kangaroo Care : Skin-to-skin contact between the infant and a parent can help reduce pain and promote bonding. Young Children ● Young children also receive pain medications based on their weight in kilograms or body surface area. ● Some children may be capable of taking oral pills or tablets . ● For intramuscular injections , sites like the vastus lateralis , rectus femoris , and ventrogluteal areas are preferred until the child has been walking for at least a year, allowing the gluteus maximus muscle to develop for safe intramuscular injections. ● Nonpharmacologica l interventions for young children are crucial and may include: ○ Distraction Techniques : Engaging children with games, toys, or music can help them cope with pain during procedures. ○ Child Life Specialists : These professionals are trained to help children understand and manage medical procedures, making the experience less intimidating. ○ Play Therapy : Incorporating play into pain management can help children express their feelings and reduce anxiety. ○ Imagery and Visualization : Guided imagery and storytelling can be used to distract and comfort children during painful procedures. Elderly Population : ● Aging-related changes, such as decreased renal, hepatic , and gastrointestinal function , impact how the elderly metabolize medications. ● Elderly clients are at higher risk of experiencing side effects, adverse drug reactions, toxicity, and over-dosage. ● Nurses should initiate new medications at the lowest possible dosage and titrate them slowly to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. Initial dosages may be as low as half of the recommended adult dosage. ● Nonpharmacological pain management for the elderly is especially important and may include: ○ Physical Therapy : Tailored exercise programs to improve mobility and reduce musculoskeletal pain.

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