St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa, FL has taken steps to take the pain out of a hospital visit. They have created a Pediatric Pain Free Task Force. The goal is to eliminate any unnecessary pain. All of the techniques are easily accessible for the nurse and each station is equipped with what is needed for all pain free interventions. Nurse Stephanie Pitts is one of the people who started the pain free initiative. She challenges all parents, doctors and nurses to ask themselves what can be done to lesson the pain for this procedure. Below are some of the interventions that are used at St. Joseph ’s Children’s Hospital.

Non-Pharmacologic Interventions

Pain Free Tool	Description	How to Use
Hospitalization	Child Life	Especially trained to help children and their families with pain and procedures	Ask hospital if they have anyone on staff
Mild to Moderate Pain	Acetaminophen	Used to relieve mild pain	15mg/kg (Max 1000mg) oral/rectal every 4 hours as needed (>8 weeks old)
IV’s, Venipuncture, IM’s, Port Access	Emla Ethyl Chloride Epiture Easytouch Sweetease	Lidocaine and Prilocaine 2.5% Use for STAT Cool laser followed by Lidocaine 4% 24% glucose solution	Apply topically to site 60 minutes prior to stick (>37 weeks) Spray 4-10 seconds (>4 years old) Laser site and follow with 4% Lidocaine cream. Read to stick in 10 minutes (>37 weeks old) Dip pacifier or parent finger into solution. Do not exceed 2mL. Discard unused portion
NG/OG tube insertion	Hurricane Spray Xylocaine	Benzocaine 20% 2% Lidocaine HCI jelly	2 (1/2 second) sprays to the back of the throat (>4 years old) Apply to base of tube prior to insertion (>37 weeks old)
Urine Cath insertion	Xylocaine Urojet	2% Lidocaine HCI jelly Urojet	Using sterile technique, apply to uretha and tip of tube prior to insertion (>37 weeks old)
Family/Friend Healthcare provider	Position for comfort, Massage, Therapeutic Touch, Distraction, Music, Pacifier, Holding/Swaddling	Utilize interventions along with pharmacologic options to optimize ‘pain-free’ effects on the child.