Question

A nurse is caring for a 1 mo infant who is breastfeeding and requires a heel stick. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to minimize the infant's pain?

A. Perform the heel stick quickly and decisively, minimizing the time the infant experiences discomfort.
B. Apply a warm compress to the infant's heel before the procedure to increase blood flow and reduce pain sensation.
C. Administer a small amount of infant acetaminophen orally prior to the heel stick to preemptively manage pain.
D. Use a larger gauge needle for the heel stick to minimize tissue damage and decrease the overall pain experienced by the infant.

Answer 1

To minimize pain during a heel stick for a breastfeeding 1-month-old infant, applying a warm compress to the heel before the procedure is recommended. This increases blood flow and potentially reduces the pain sensation. Additional comfort measures based on the neonate's responsiveness to touch, like offering a pacifier, could also be helpful.

Step-by-step explanation:

To minimize the infant's pain during a heel stick, the nurse should consider applying a warm compress to the infant's heel before the procedure. This method is used to increase blood flow and may reduce pain sensation by warming the skin and the underlying tissues, making the puncture less painful. In addition, using non-pharmacological methods such as gentle rocking or providing a pacifier for non-nutritive sucking can be beneficial. These approaches are based on the neonate's well-developed sense of touch and positive response to comfort measures like cuddling and sucking.

Option A, performing the heel stick quickly, does not necessarily minimize pain. Option C, administering acetaminophen, typically isn't recommended for such procedures in newborns without specific medical advice. And option D, using a larger gauge needle, is incorrect because a larger gauge needle is thicker and could actually cause more pain and tissue damage.