Child Life Specialists and Nonpharmacologic Interventions

This chapter discusses the role of the child life specialist in the multidisciplinary pediatric sedation team and the various nonpharmacologic techniques that may be used to attenuate the fear, anxiety, and pain responses of children undergoing procedural care. Child life specialists are an integral component of the sedation team. Their assessments can help the team develop a plan of care, and they offer insight into how to provide developmentally appropriate education as well as psychosocial and emotional support to pediatric patients and their families. Nonpharmacologic techniques that have been shown to be effective in reducing pain and anxiety for children undergoing medical procedure include setting up the environment, parental presence, positioning for comfort, and distraction. Considerations for infants are also discussed. The chapter includes a table of appropriate language to use with children and another with a summary of age-appropriate distraction techniques. The ONE VOICE© model is included as a reference for practitioners to use in daily practice.