Ep. 37: Navigating Pediatric Pain Management

In this episode, pediatric palliative care nurse practitioner Mallory Fossa, MS, CPNP-PC, CCRN, CHPPN® discusses her experiences in pediatric palliative care with Kathy Perko, MS, PPCNP-BC, CHPPN®, CPON, CPLC, FPCN, FAPHON, a pediatric nurse for 40 years and PNP for 30 years. Together, they discuss the obstacles of managing pain in children, including communication between the patient, caregivers, and palliative care team. Topics discussed include assessment, management of pain including tissue injury, nerve pain, and mixed pain, and the concept of total pain.

Related Resources:

• NEW! Palliative Care Pediatric Pain Basics
• Publications for Pediatric RNs
• CHPPN® Prep

About the Speakers: Moderator: Kathy Perko, MS, PPCNP-BC, CHPPN®, CPON, CPLC, FPCN, FAPHON

Featuring:  Mallory Fossa, MS, CPNP-PC, CCRN, CHPPN®

Mallory Fossa, MS, CPNP-PC, CCRN, CHPPN® Mallory Fossa is a pediatric palliative care nurse practitioner practicing at Connecticut Children’s. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island, following which she was a pediatric ICU nurse. She received her MSN in pediatric primary care at New York University with a subspecialty certificate in palliative care. After graduation, she worked in Los Angeles at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles on the pediatric palliative care team caring for children both in the acute care setting as well as outpatient setting. She is now working at CT Children’s on their palliative care team, where in addition to her clinical role she works on QI projects to improve the care provided to pediatric palliative care patients and children in the hospital at end of life. Additionally, she serves on the AAHPM Pediatric State of the Science workgroup.

Kathy Perko, MS, PPCNP-BC, CHPPN®, CPON, CPLC, FPCN, FAPHON Kathy Perko has been a pediatric nurse for 40 years, a PNP for 30 years. She started her career in pediatric oncology, specifically caring for children with brain tumors which she continued through 2015. She founded the Bridges Pediatric Palliative Care Program at OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital in 2003 and was the director until her retirement in November 2020. Kathy helped develop the Pediatric Track of the UW Palliative Care Certificate Program and directed the track until 2024.  She provides education and consultation in pediatric palliative care through PANDA Consultants, PLLC 

She is nationally certified as a pediatric nurse practitioner, pediatric oncology nurse, perinatal loss clinician and pediatric palliative care and hospice nurse.  She is recognized as a Fellow in Palliative and Hospice Care and in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.  She is national faculty for ELNEC, EPEC, and Vital Talk. Kathy has a certificate in pediatric bioethics from Children's Mercy in Kansas City and in Palliative Care from the University of Washington.