Nursing Care of Children ATI Related

Review Nursing Care of Children ATI related questions and content

An intravenous line is needed in a school-age child. What medication is an appropriate analgesic for use with this patient?

  • A. TAC (tetracaine, epinephrine [Adrenalin], cocaine) 15 minutes before the procedure.
  • B. A transdermal fentanyl (Duragesic) patch at the site of venipuncture.
  • C. EMLA (eutectic mixture of local anesthetics) immediately before the procedure.
  • D. LMX (4% liposomal lidocaine cream) 30 minutes before the procedure.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: LMX is an effective analgesic agent when applied to the skin 30 minutes before a procedure. It eliminates or reduces the pain from most procedures involving skin puncture. TAC provides skin anesthesia about 15 minutes after application to nonintact skin, making it more suitable for wound suturing. Transdermal fentanyl patches are designed for continuous pain control, not rapid pain control needed for a procedure like venipuncture. EMLA, for maximum effectiveness, must be applied approximately 60 minutes before the procedure, making it less suitable for immediate pain relief required for intravenous line placement.