Pain is an unpleasant bodily experience caused by injury or illness. The unpleasant sensation is subjective because it is determined by the intensity with which a patient experiences it.

A nurse who is caring for a patient in pain should be able to assess the type and level of pain to manage the discomfort appropriately. A nurse can differentiate between two types of pain based on the source, duration, and onset.

Acute pain: The onset is gradual or abrupt, with severity ranging from moderate to severe. It could happen after surgery, a medical procedure, a serious disease, or a trauma. Acute discomfort lasts for shorter than six months.

Chronic pain: Pain that lasts for more than 6 months and ranges in intensity from mild to very incapacitating. Chronic pain can make it difficult for a patient to conduct daily tasks and might lead to depression.

Diagnosis of Pain Management Nursing Care Plan

As previously said, pain is highly subjective, but the description of pain by patients is the strongest predictor. A nurse cannot confirm or refute what a patient is feeling, but she can also make assumptions. A nurse should also inquire about the source of the discomfort and how long it has been there.

A nurse should also look for nonverbal pain cues such as moaning, grimacing, sobbing, and guarding. Nursing Care Plan Goals and Outcomes for Pain Management The following are the aims and expected outcomes for a nursing care plan for pain management:

• The patient’s BP, pulse, respiration, body posture, or muscle tone all show signs of improved well-being.
• A patient describes his or her pain control as satisfactory at a level less than 3-4 on a scale of 0-10.
• A patient employs both pharmaceutical and non-pharmacological pain management techniques.
• The patient’s mood and ability to cope with discomfort have improved.

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ASSESSMENT OF A NURSING CARE PLAN FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT

The assessment of a patient’s pain is the first step in addressing the issue and creating measures to manage it. A patient is the most trustworthy source of information on the ache.

Descriptive scales, such as visual analogue, can also help a nurse determine the level of pain. Following an examination of pain characteristics in these terms, a clearer picture of pain emerges.

• Burning, shooting, and crispness are examples of quality.
• Severity is measured on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 indicating no discomfort and 10 indicating the most severe.
  onset (rapid or gradual) anatomical location
• Duration -The length of time that the pain has been present, as well as whether it is intermittent or constant.
• Factors that precipitate or relieve

Some patients deny the existence of pain, and a nurse should pay attention to related symptoms that may aid in pain evaluation. Patients suffering from acute pain, for example, may have an elevated heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature. The skin of a sufferer may feel cold to the touch and appear pallid. Restlessness and inability to concentrate are two symptoms that aid to detect the presence of discomfort.

INTERVENTIONS AND RATIONALES IN THE NURSING CARE PLAN

Assessment is an important step in pain management since it determines the type, intensity, and effectiveness of pain reduction. Nursing care plans for pain management should begin with prompt recognition of pain reports. Early intervention can aid in reducing the amount of analgesic required to treat a patient.

A nurse must get a medical history in order to check current and previous use of analgesic/narcotic to decide the best technique of pain treatment. Unless there is a contraindication, patients in acute pain are likely to require nonopioid analgesics around the clock.

Doctors are likely to provide the appropriate medication, but nurses must ensure that patients follow prescription instructions and use nonpharmacological pain treatment approaches such as music therapy, breathing exercises, and relaxation exercises. These approaches function by enhancing endorphin release, which helps to increase the therapeutic effects of pain management drugs.

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