The nurse is preparing to perform a dressing change on a 13-year-old client who is being treated for burns he received two weeks ago. The client prefers not to take pain medication before the dressing change because it causes drowsiness

Question

What nursing interventions would provide atraumatic care? Select all that apply.

A) The nurse asks the client if he would like the television on during the dressing change.
B) The nurse asks the client if a small group of nursing students can observe the dressing change.
C) The nurse encourages the client to wear headphones to listen to music during the dressing change.
D) The nurse encourages the parent to talk to the child about taking pain medication prior to the procedure.
E) The nurse tells the client that the dressing change will not be performed unless pain medication is taken.

Answer 1

Ans: A, C
Minimizing stress prior to and during a procedure helps provide atraumatic care. Since the child chooses to not take pain medication, watching television or using headphones during the procedure provides distraction to the discomfort of the procedure. Students observing does not provide distraction. The child has chosen for the last 2 weeks to not receive pain medication so having the parent talk to the child again does not provide atraumatic care. The nurse cannot force the child to take pain medication.