I am most interested in focusing on pain management for this course. I hope to assist my patients to improve their quality of life during the experience of chronic pain.
As a new RN, I was most interested in pediatric patients, working in a pediatric hematology/oncology day clinic. During my experience with pediatric cancer patients I especially became concerned about the comfort of these patients and their pain management. I recall during nursing school researching pain control during my pediatric course, there was a new study being conducted to validate that pediatric patients, although at times could not fully express their need for pain control, did have this need. Imagine at that time to think there were those who believed due to physiologic differences from the adult, a pediatric patient experienced pain differently, which was interpreted as less pain. Next, I became employed as a public health nurse with the focus of care on the maternal Child Health population, women of childbearing age, during their prenatal period and with their children up to age 3 years. I have enjoyed caring for patients, mostly in their homes, and providing health promotion information to families, one-on-one, or at times in a small group setting.
My 1st choice population is those from Birth--12 years.
Over the years, my current nursing position as a public health nurse includes patients of all ages. I enjoy working withthe elders as well, with managementof chronic illness, with support and health information. I would like to focus on alternative and complimentary modalities for pain management experinced by the elderly population. I am concerned with the safety of the elderly who are treated with conventional pain medications, or those whose pain is not being managed well due to safety constraints.
My 2nd choice population is those over 65 years.