Pain Assesment

Question 1

Purpose of Pain as 5th Vital Sign

Answer 1

Purpose: to asses THEIR level of pain & to determine if interventions are effective or not

*Pain is used to protect body from further harm

Question 2

Methods of assessing pain intensity and pain relief

Answer 2

• Vital Signs: Pulse & BP
• Children: pictures of faces
• Body posture and tension
• Numerical Pain Scale

Question 3

Factors influencing pain expression and clinician response

Answer 3

Factors Influencing Pain Exp:

• pt fear of cause of pain
• psychological stressors & past pain experiences
• pain threshold

Clinician Response:

• empathy
• concern/belief
• listen
• not be condescending
• if you believe and affirm their pain it may help alleviate the pain they are having

Question 4

Pain History

Answer 4

When did the pain start?(onset)

Anything makes it better or worse? (palliative/provocative)

What type of pain is it? (quality)

Can you rate it 1-10? (quantity)

Where is the pain? (regionality)

Does it radiate anywhere?

Any other symptoms?