MED SURG CHPT 5 PAIN

Pain is a universal, complex, subjective experience.

it is the most common reason for a patient to sek medical care and the number-one reason for a person to take medication.

The nurse's primary role in pain management is to advocate for the patient by believing reports of pain and acting promptly to relieve it, while respecting the patient's preferences and values.

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. 

in their classic work, McCaffery and Paseco offered a more personal explanation of pain when they stated that pain is whatever the experiencing person says it is and exists whenever ne or she says it does.

Often defined as pain that last or recurs for indefinite periods, usually for more than 3 months. 

the onset is gradual, and the character and quality of the pain change over time.

Because chronic pain often involves deep body structures, it is usually poorly localized (hard to pinpoint) and often difficult to describe.

Acute pain serves a biologic purpose.  It acts as a warning signal by activating the sypathetic nervous system and causing various physiologic responses.

Increased heart rate

Increased blood pressure

Increased respiratory rate

Dilated pupils

Sweating

is pain confined to the site of orgin.

Is pain along a specific nerve or nerves.

Is diffuse pain around the site of orgin that is not well localized.

Is pain perceived in an area distant from the site of painful stimuli.

Precipitating or palliative:  what brings it on?  What makes it better? worse? When did you first notice it?

• Quality or quantity:  How does it look, feel, or sound?
• How intense/severe is it?

Region or radiation:  Where is it? Does it spread anywhere?

Severity scale:  How bad is it (on a scale of 1 to 10)?  Is it getting better, worse, or staying the same?

Timing:  Onset-Exactly when did it first occur?  Duration-How long did it last?  Frequency -How often does it occur?