Senior Nursing Poster Session (Virtual)
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Nursing
2nd Student Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
2nd Student Major
Nursing
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Jessica Naber
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
Above all else, children require stability in their lives in order to develop a healthy perspective of the world. Feelings of instability can come from something as small as a change in schools. In the practice of pediatric medicine it is especially important to avoid these feelings of instability, which can lead children to develop healthcare-anxiety. Healthcare settings can be exceptionally emotionally taxing to children, because the children have a complete lack of control over their environment. This lack of control combined with fear and potentially pain can be incredibly distressing. While it is easy to disregard a child’s anxiety in order to “get the job done,” causing unnecessary trauma related to healthcare can lead to a lifetime of healthcare avoidance and poorer personal health. The aim of this study is to identify an intervention that would decrease pain in pediatric patients undergoing needle-sticks. In searching for evidence-based research on this topic, the use of virtual reality (VR) headsets was found to significantly lessen not only pain and anxiety during the procedures, but also for future procedures.
Spring Scholars Week 2022 Event
Senior Nursing Poster Session
Included in
Anesthesia and Analgesia Commons, Equipment and Supplies Commons, Interprofessional Education Commons, Pediatric Nursing Commons
Reducing Pediatric Procedural Pain Using Virtual Reality
Above all else, children require stability in their lives in order to develop a healthy perspective of the world. Feelings of instability can come from something as small as a change in schools. In the practice of pediatric medicine it is especially important to avoid these feelings of instability, which can lead children to develop healthcare-anxiety. Healthcare settings can be exceptionally emotionally taxing to children, because the children have a complete lack of control over their environment. This lack of control combined with fear and potentially pain can be incredibly distressing. While it is easy to disregard a child’s anxiety in order to “get the job done,” causing unnecessary trauma related to healthcare can lead to a lifetime of healthcare avoidance and poorer personal health. The aim of this study is to identify an intervention that would decrease pain in pediatric patients undergoing needle-sticks. In searching for evidence-based research on this topic, the use of virtual reality (VR) headsets was found to significantly lessen not only pain and anxiety during the procedures, but also for future procedures.