BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pain affects children of all ages and may lead to emergency or urgency assistance. Considering that children have unique ways of manifesting pain, this study aimed at understanding criteria used by the multiprofessional team to evaluate and control pain in children admitted to a Pediatric Emergency and Urgency Unit. METHODS: This is a qualitative and descriptive study in urgency and emergency unit assisting children from zero to 12 years of age. Research subjects were physicians and nursing team of the unit located in the Southern region of Rio Grande do Sul. Semi-structured interviews were carried out and participants were observed. The research had a core question: "Which are the criteria used by the multiprofessional team to evaluate and control pain in children admitted to a pediatric urgency and emergency unit?" RESULTS: Participated in the study two nurses, two pediatricians and three nursing technicians. Experience of respondents with pediatric emergency and urgency has varied from two to 20 years. Two themes have emerged from data analysis: criteria to evaluate pain in children, and; pain management and control in a pediatric unit. CONCLUSION: Results infer that the health team values pain in children, but have to enhance its evaluation and handling.
Children; Emergency medical services; Pain; Pain evaluation