If the patient is your child, you might feel great pain in not being able to protect him from the discomfort of some tests and procedures. It is hard for parents to willingly let people hurt their child. If he is old enough, you may be able to explain why procedures are done and how they will help him recover. Often a doll or stuffed animal can be used to familiarize him with the procedures he will have to undergo. He can pretend to draw blood, change dressings and even do bone marrow aspirates.
Most procedures are noninvasive and therefore painless.
A few, however, do involve some pain. Keep your credibility with the patient by not allowing anyone to tell him a test will not hurt if it may. Medication is generally given before the most painful procedures. You do not have to be present during these tests. Sometimes hospital policy dictates that you not be there.