I work as a travel/registry temporary nurse providing staff relief for vacations and critically low-staffed specialty areas. In my position, I frequently encounter different clinical practices, and one area that seems to need continuing education for nurses is pediatric IV therapy. I know this is a basic skill for nurses, but more knowledge is needed about how to do this painlessly. I have seen so many IVs inserted in infants and children without EMLA cream or local anesthetic or analgesic agents, and it is terrible. On many occasions I have seen nurses, residents, and IV teams attempt painful IV starts without pain relief, and it seems to me that a good continuing education article is needed to teach everyone about how to relieve pain for IV starts. An article that clarifies and prioritizes pediatric IV therapy would be very useful.

Cynthia Little, RN

Texas