Question

A nurse is planning to apply a transdermal analgesic cream

prior to inserting an IV for a preschool-age child.
Which of the following actions should the nurse plan
to take?

(A) Spread the cream over the lateral surface of both forearms.
(B) Apply to intact skin.
(C) Apply the medication an hour before the procedure begins.
(D) Cleanse the skin prior to procedure.
(E) Use a visual pain rating scale to evaluate
effectiveness of the treatment.

Answer 1

The nurse should apply the transdermal analgesic cream to intact skin at the site of the IV insertion about an hour prior to the procedure, cleanse the skin, and use a child-friendly pain rating scale to assess the treatment's effectiveness.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse is planning to apply a transdermal analgesic cream prior to inserting an IV for a preschool-age child, the correct actions to take are to apply the cream to intact skin and cleanse the skin prior to the procedure. The application of the medication should also be timed according to the product's instructions, typically about an hour before the procedure if the cream is designed to provide preemptive analgesia. It is essential to follow the proper technique of applying the cream only to the area where the IV will be inserted rather than spreading it over a large surface area like the lateral surface of both forearms.

Additionally, it is important to use appropriate pain assessment tools such as the Wong-Baker Faces Scale, which has been validated for children undergoing venipuncture, to evaluate the effectiveness of the pain treatment after the procedure.