Pain Assessment Research Paper

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Pain assessment
The first step in treating a patient's pain is understanding the patient’s pain. Pain is a unique and subjective experience. Just because two patients have the same disease/injury does not mean they will experience pain in the same way. A nurse must always take an unbiased approach and thought process when it comes to the patient’s pain. The patient’s pain is one of the first priorities in care of a patient with acute pancreatitis. A patient needs to be free of pain in order to assist with his or her own recovery process and commence healing. Al-Shaer, Hill and Anderson (2011) break down the pain assessment into a few key points. The first step in the pain assessment is the most important indicator of pain, this is the patient's …show more content…
The job of the nurse is to ask the appropriate questions to help enable the patient to accurately describe their own pain. When addressing pain a nurse must establish an understandable scale for both parties. By establishing a scale (1-10) 1= no pain and 10= the worst pain imaginable, the nurse can track the progression of the patient’s pain. An obtainable pain goal should also be established when managing pain. This would be a pain goal where the patient can function and healing can take place. The nurse must also gather as much assessment data as possible when performing a pain assessment. By asking specific details regarding the pain a nurse can better see the whole picture. Asking about not only the intensity, but also the location, radiation, duration, factors that aggravate the pain and what helps relieve the pain help create the whole picture. Some barriers to the pain assessment that Al-Shaer, Hill and Anderson address include, the nurse’s own subjective judgment. A nurse must establish a relationship of mutual respect and "trust patient self-report, even if it appears to be incongruent with the patient's nonverbal behavior or the nurses' individual belief" (Al-Shaer, Hill and …show more content…
Nondrug therapies play a vital role in pain management. One of the first comfort measures that should be included in a patient’s care plan for acute pancreatitis is positioning. The pain associated with acute pancreatitis is often aggravated when the patient is in the recumbent position. "Assuming positions that flex the trunk and draw the knees up to the abdomen may decrease pain. A side lying position with the head elevated 45 degrees decreases tension on the abdomen and may help ease the pain" (Croghan, 2014, pg. 1033). Other nonpharmacologic forms of pain management include cognitive therapies. By changing a patient’s perspective on the pain the patient may be more relaxed during their care. Kindler and Polomano (2014) some of these cognitive therapies include distraction. When using distraction with a patient it is a simple but powerful technique to cope with pain. TV, talking or just improving the patient's environment will make a difference (Kindler & Polomano, 2014. Pg. 133). Little things can help a patient feel less like a sickness and more like a person. By catering to a patient's individual preferences and what helps them feel more comfortable and decreases their pain, nurses are providing the best care possible. In working with therapists and nurse aids the patient can enhance their comfort with specialized bed and other
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