Abstract

The author asks of the reader: Have you ever been called to start a peripheral intravenous (IV) catheter or place a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in a child, and you wished someone else could do it? Performing vascular access procedures on children is considered by many one of the most stressful and difficult jobs. This article discusses the role of certified child life specialists (CCLSs) and some of the techniques used to assist children in coping with painful procedures as well as the necessity for proper assessment and pain management. The goal of this article is to eliminate the uncertainty of performing these procedures on pediatric patients. By making a few changes in your practice, one could dramatically increase successful outcomes and improve the overall quality of care provided to the patient.