Core Definition and The Three Principles

Atraumatic care is defined as therapeutic care that minimizes or eliminates the psychological and physical distress experienced by children and their families within the health care system. Rooted in the premise of "do no harm," this approach relies on three fundamental principles:

1. Preventing or minimizing physical stressors: This includes avoiding pain, sleeplessness, and bodily injury. Nurses should utilize pharmacological interventions and comfort positions, such as "therapeutic hugging" (holding the child securely to prevent movement without forceful restraint), rather than "holding down" a child.

2. Preventing or minimizing child-family separation: Recognizing the family as the patient, nurses mus ...