Mini Blog: 2 minutes with...Catriona McLean

What is your current role/job/position? I’m currently a Clinical Nurse Consultant in the Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney.    I have experience across Pain and Palliative Care but work primarily in Acute Pain Management and I have specific interest in managing children through painful/ distressing procedures.

How did you get into working in Pain Management? I came to Sydney in 1990 to work in a paediatric high dependency unit.  I remember being so impressed seeing PCAs and epidurals used on a regular basis and how well many of the children recovered from surgery and trauma that when an opportunity became available in the Pain Service at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, I didn’t hesitate in applying.

What do you hope people might take away from your presentation? I hope that all health care professionals continue to be mindful of the issues surrounding short and longer term pain management when working with children, adolescents and their families and the impact it can have on them . It’s important it is for us all to do our best to strive for and promote excellence in care.