The client is a 7-year-old with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) admitted to pre-op for heel cord lengthening. Child has cognitive and speech delays. Experiences absent seizures numerous times daily according to parent. The nurse is developing the plan of care for the child. To provide atraumatic care for this child post-operatively, what will be a priority?

Assessing and managing pain is a crucial aspect of providing atraumatic care for any post-operative patient, including a child with spastic cerebral palsy. It is important to monitor and assess the child's pain levels regularly to ensure their comfort and well-being. Pain can be particularly challenging to assess in a child with cognitive and speech delays, so the nurse should use appropriate pain assessment tools and also consider nonverbal cues, changes in behavior, and physiological indicators of pain. While antibiotics may be prescribed if there is an infection present, it is not mentioned as a priority in this specific scenario. The focus is on providing atraumatic care post-operatively. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and wound care are all important components of the child's overall care, but they may not be the immediate priority post-operatively. The child's specific needs and surgical procedure will determine when these interventions are appropriate and can be incorporated into the plan of care as needed. However, addressing pain is of utmost importance in the immediate post-operative period.