A 12-year-old child with sickle cell disease is admitted with a vaso-occlusive crisis. The child rates pain as 10/10 but refuses IV opioids due to fear of needles. Which intervention should the nurse implement FIRST?

A. Delaying pain management is not appropriate in a child experiencing a vaso-occlusive crisis. Pain relief is a priority nursing intervention, and documenting refusal without offering alternatives does not address the child’s suffering. B. Forcing medication or implying it is mandatory can increase the child’s fear and anxiety, potentially worsening pain and reducing cooperation. It is not a therapeutic approach and does not respect the child’s autonomy. C. Waiting is unsafe and unethical. A pain score of 10/10 indicates severe pain that requires prompt management. Delaying treatment can increase the risk of pain-related complications, including stress-induced vaso-occlusion or prolonged crisis. D. Since the child refuses IV opioids due to fear of needles, the nurse should first implement alternative strategies while respecting the child’s autonomy. Nonpharmacologic interventions for sickle cell pain include distraction techniques such as videos, games, or music, guided imagery or relaxation exercises, heat application to affected joints, and deep breathing exercises. These approaches can reduce anxiety and pain perception and can be used immediately while exploring other analgesic options, such as oral opioids, patient-controlled analgesia, or topical analgesics.