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Questions and Answers
What type of pain persists for more than 3-6 months?
Which type of pain involves organs such as the heart and stomach?
What is the purpose of using a pain intensity scale?
Which pain assessment scale ranges from 0 to 10?
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Which type of pain is characterized by changes in nerve cells?
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What should a nurse provide while taking pain history from a patient?
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In which type of pain does tissue damage lead to potential physiological trauma?
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What do verbal pain scales use to describe pain?
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What is the primary purpose of using a pain scale in patient assessment?
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Which factor is NOT considered when assessing the characteristics of pain using the PQRSTU method?
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In which scenario would a healthcare provider MOST likely perform a thorough pain assessment?
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What is the role of providing privacy during pain assessment?
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When assessing pain intensity in children, which tool is most appropriate?
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Which element of the nursing procedure promotes patient compliance?
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Which of the following is NOT an objective sign of pain that a nurse might assess?
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What should be assessed to decide on the care to be provided to a patient in pain?
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Study Notes
What is Pain?
- Pain is an unpleasant sensation and emotional experience connected to tissue damage.
- Pain is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain.
Types of Pain
- Acute Pain: Short duration, healing process takes around 30 days.
- Chronic Pain: Persists for more than 3-6 months.
- Physiological Pain: Leads to potential tissue damage.
- Somatic Pain: Involves superficial tissues (skin, bone, muscle, joints).
- Visceral Pain: Involves organs (heart, stomach & liver).
- Neuropathic Pain: Caused by changes in the nerve cells.
Assessment of Pain
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Subjective Data
- Pain History: Nurse should provide opportunities for clients to express their pain experience in their own words.
- Onset and Duration: When did the pain begin? How long has it lasted? Does it occur at the same time each day? How often does it occur?
- Location: Where is the pain felt? Does the pain differ under different circumstances? If several parts of the body are painful, does the pain occur simultaneously? Is the pain unilateral or bilateral? Ask the individual to point to the site of discomfort.
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Intensity: Use of pain intensity scales is a reliable method to determine pain intensity. Most scales range from 0 to 5 or 0 to 10. Common pain scales include:
- Numerical Scale
- Descriptive Scale
- Visual Analog Scale
Pain Scale Types
- Descriptive Scale: Uses words like "no pain," "mild pain," "moderate pain," and "severe pain."
- Numerical Scale: Uses a range of numbers, typically from 0 to 10, where 0 represents "no pain" and 10 represents "worst pain possible."
- Visual Analog Scale: Uses a vertical or horizontal line with "no pain" at one end and "worst pain" at the other. The patient marks on the line to indicate their pain level.
Numerical Rating Scale
- A numerical rating scale typically ranges from 0 to 10.
- "No pain" corresponds with "0" and "worst pain possible" corresponds with "10."
- Patients choose a number from 0 to 10 that best reflects their pain level.
Verbal Rating Scale
- Verbal rating scales use words to describe pain levels.
- Words like "no pain," "mild pain," "moderate pain," and "severe pain" are used to describe pain levels.
Visual Analog Scale
- VAS uses a vertical or horizontal line that extends from "no pain" to "worst pain."
- Patients are asked to mark a point on the line that represents their level of pain.
Nursing Assessment
- Assess the patient's risk for pain (e.g., those undergoing invasive procedures, anxious patients).
- Assess the patient's response to previous pharmacological interventions, including their ability to function.
- Examine the site of the patient's pain or discomfort.
- Assess physical, behavioral, and emotional signs and symptoms of pain, which could include:
- Moaning
- Decreased activity
- Abnormal guilt and irritability
Objective Data
- Objective data relates to observable signs and symptoms.
- Assessment of objective data includes:
- Vital signs
- Physical assessment
- Laboratory findings
- Other diagnostic results
Preparation of Equipment
- Pain scale
- Privacy screen
- Patient case sheet
- Gloves
Nursing Procedure
- Explain the procedure to the patient: Promotes compliance.
- Wash hands and wear gloves (if needed): To prevent the transmission of microorganisms.
- Provide privacy (if needed): To provide comfort.
- Ensure presence of easy lighting: For easy assessment.
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Assess the level of pain using a pain scale (using "PQRSTU" assessment):
- Provocative/Palliative factors: What makes your pain better or worse?
- Quality: Tell me what your pain feels like?
- Region/Radiation: Show me where your pain is. Where is the pain spreading to?
- Severity: Using an appropriate pain intensity scale (numerical, descriptive, or visual analog), ask the patient to rate their pain.
- Timing: Ask the patient if the pain is continuous, intermittent, constant, or a combination.
- U Impact on daily life: Ask the patient, "How is the pain affecting you?"
- Ask about current non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions: This helps to determine existing care and avoid duplication.
- Mark the findings in the pain assessment form: Provides a record for monitoring progress and adjusting care plans.
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Description
This quiz explores the concept of pain, distinguishing between different types such as acute, chronic, and neuropathic pain. Additionally, it covers the assessment of pain through subjective data, including history and characteristics of the pain experienced by patients. Test your knowledge on this important healthcare topic!
