The Atraumatic Care Approach in Pediatric Nursing: Non-Pharmacological Applications in Reducing Pain, Stress, and Anxiety

Abstract

Becoming ill and hospitalized causes anxiety in children and their families. It has negative effects on children's adaptation to their illness and treatment, slows down healing, and lengthens hospital stay. Pediatric nurses make use of various approaches to prevent and reduce negative feelings in children and their families. One of them is the atraumatic care approach. Its principles include reduction or minimization of physical stressors, prevention of separation of children from their parents, and support for the feeling of control. Using this approach facilitates children's adaptation to their illness and hospital and contributes to reduction of anxiety and procedures that cause pain. In addition, it provides support to and strengthens families and helps fulfill families' needs. Therefore, nurses working in pediatric wards should have knowledge of and implement the atraumatic care approach. In this review, the use of atraumatic care in pediatric nursing and the effects of non-pharmacologic practices to reduce the pain of a hospital child, anxiety and family anxiety and stress are presented in the literature.