There are many things that nurses do today to make a child's stay more comfortable. Planning is one key to preventing pain of procedures. Nurses plan ahead so the child encounters a needle as few times as possible. When they can allow an hour beforehand, nurses apply EMLA, a cream that numbs the skin, to the area being stuck so the child feels pressure but no pain. Often IVs for surgery may be inserted after the child is asleep.
Preparation is also important.
Being able to make choices, even little ones like which finger to stick, gives children a sense of control. This seems to reduce the intensity of the pain and the trauma of the procedure. Explanation of what will happen in ways that children can understand is the specialty of child life specialists, who are trained in the developmental stages of children. Julie LaBounty, a child-life specialist in the Texas Children's Heart Center, uses a doll to explain what will happen during heart surgery and offers tours of the recovery room. These experiences, along with having their parents' presence in the preparation and recovery areas, alleviate many children's and parents' fears.