Conscious sedation of pediatric oncology patients for painful procedures: development and implementation of a clinical practice protocol.

Pain during treatment procedures is often identified as the most distressing aspect of the entire cancer experience for a child with cancer. The use of conscious sedation may reduce this procedure-related pain and distress. A clinical practice protocol is necessary to maximize the efficacy and safety of conscious sedation use. In this article, the processes of developing and implementing a conscious sedation protocol for pediatric oncology patients undergoing painful procedures are presented. The protocol itself is included. A review of the literature on conscious sedation is presented, and implications for pediatric oncology nursing practice are discussed.