what would be your first step when you hear a patient report pain as 10 out of 10?

The first step in assessing pain is to find out how bad it is at the present moment. There are tools that can help someone who is able to communicate describe the severity of their pain. For adults, this is usually done with a numeric scale of 0-10. Zero would describe the absence of pain and 10 would symbolize the worst pain imaginable.

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How do you assess pain in a patient?

At any other time you think your patient is in pain, you can use the mnemonic LOTTAARP (location, onset, timing, type, associated symptoms, alleviating factors, radiation, precipitating event) to help you remember what questions to ask your patient. See Checklist 14 for the questions to ask and steps to take to assess pain.

When to perform a more comprehensive and focused assessment of pain?

A more comprehensive and focused assessment should be performed when someone’s pain changes notably from previous findings, because sudden changes may indicate an underlying pathological process (Jarvis, Browne, MacDonald-Jenkins, & Luctkar-Flude, 2014).

What is the pain level of a 10?

For adults, this is usually done with a numeric scale of 0-10. Zero would describe the absence of pain and 10 would symbolize the worst pain imaginable. Ask your loved one to rate their pain somewhere on that scale. In general, a pain level of: 0 is no pain. 1 to 3 refers to mild pain. 4 to 6 refers to moderate pain.

What is the most reliable indicator of pain?

Therefore, the most important and reliable indicator for pain is the patient's self-report. When treating patients with acute or chronic pain, it is important to frequently reassess pain scores to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy used.

How do you explain the pain scale 1/10 to a patient?

Using the Pain ScaleIf you want your pain to be taken seriously, ... 0 – Pain Free.1 – Pain is very mild, barely noticeable. ... 2 – Minor pain. ... 3 – Pain is noticeable and distracting, however, you can get used to it and adapt.4 – Moderate pain. ... 5 – Moderately strong pain.More items...

What is the first step in pain assessment?

Start your assessments by asking patients to rate their pain on a scale from 0 to 10, with 10 being the worst possible pain and 0 being no pain. Where are you feeling pain? When did the pain start? How long have you been in pain?

What are the steps of pain assessment?

PQRST Pain Assessment MethodP = Provocation/Palliation. What were you doing when the pain started? ... Q = Quality/Quantity. What does it feel like? ... R = Region/Radiation. Where is the pain located? ... S = Severity Scale. ... T = Timing. ... Documentation.

How do you respond to a patient in pain?

Simple Ways to Better Communicate with a Patient in PainWhen entering the room of patients in pain, always tell them that you are there to help comfort them and to do your best to relieve their pain.Remain calm and show empathy.Express concerns for the patient's feelings.Use “I” statements.More items...

What are the nursing interventions for pain?

Nursing Interventions for Acute PainProvide measures to relieve pain before it becomes severe. ... Acknowledge and accept the client's pain. ... Provide nonpharmacologic pain management. ... Provide pharmacologic pain management as ordered. ... Manage acute pain using a multimodal approach.More items...•

How do you ask a patient about pain?

History of Your PainWhat caused my pain in the first place?Did my pain start suddenly or gradually?How long have I been in pain?What am I currently doing to manage my pain?Is there anything I'm doing that's reducing my pain?What pain medications have I taken in the past, and how did they work for me?More items...

What is initial assessment in nursing?

The ABCCS assessment (airway, breathing, circulation, consciousness, safety) is the first assessment you will do when you meet your patient. This assessment is repeated whenever you suspect or recognize that your patient's status has become, or is becoming, unstable.

What is the most reliable way to assess a patient's pain?

Self-report is the most reliable way to assess pain intensity. When the patient is able to report pain, the patient's behavior or vital signs should never be used in lieu of self-report.

How do you document pain?

Six Tips to Documenting Patient PainTip 1: Document the SEVERITY level of pain. ... Tip 2: Document what causes VARIABILITY of pain. ... Tip 3: Document the MOVEMENTS of the patient at pain onset. ... Tip 4: Document the LOCATION of pain. ... Tip 5: Document the TIME of pain onset. ... Tip 6: Document your EVALUATION of the pain site.More items...•

How do you respond to a patient?

Understand the patient's condition or circumstances. Respect the patient concerns. Respond timely to patient requests or concerns. Treat others the way you would want to be treated!

What do you say to a patient?

Here are five ideas for what to say to a patient or caregiver:“I wish things were going better.” OR “I wish this was not happening to you.” ... “This must be hard news for you to share.” ... “When do you see yourself clear for coffee? ... “You are in my heart.” ... “I love you.”

How do you say no to a difficult patient?

How to Say No to Unreasonable Patient RequestsSaying no to unreasonable patient requests:Just say no Don't be vague. If you are not going to give in to something a patient is asking, say so. ... Explain why you are saying no. To just refuse a request without explanation is rather cruel. ... Offer alternatives.

What is breakthrough pain?

Pain that occurs beyond the chronic pain already being treated by appropriate analgesics is termed breakthrough pain. Neuropathic pain is caused by damage to peripheral nerves or the central nervous system (CNS). Somatic pain is localized and arises from bone, joint, muscle, skin, or connective tissue.

What is the respiratory rate of a PCA patient?

The patient's respiratory rate is 10 breaths/minute. The patient's respiratory rate indicates a need to decrease the PCA dose or change the medication in order to avoid further respiratory depression. The other information also may require intervention, but is not as urgent to report as the respiratory rate. 17.

What is the best medication for long term pain?

The ibuprofen, amitriptyline, and oxycodone are all appropriate medications for long-term pain management. 12. Which of these prescribed therapies should the nurse use first when caring for a patient with cancer pain that the patient describes as at "level 8 (0 to 10 scale), deep, and aching.".

What is somatic pain?

Somatic pain is localized and arises from bone, joint, muscle, skin, or connective tissue. Referred pain is pain that is localized in uninjured tissue. 3. A postoperative patient asks the nurse how the prescribed ibuprofen (Motrin) will control the incisional pain.

Can a nurse administer morphine?

Teaching the patient to administer unneeded medication before going to sleep can result in oversedation and respiratory depression. It is illegal for the nurse to administer the morphine for a patient through PCA. 9.

How long should a nurse wait for a pain assessment?

Patients with dementia can be given an analgesic trial or option. The nurse should not wait an additional 3 to 4 hours for another pain assessment. A patient with dementia may say "no" if asked about having pain even if he or she is having pain. Words lose their meaning with dementia.

What is the first phase of nociceptive pain?

Transduction is the first phase of nociceptive pain. During this phase, injured tissue releases chemicals that propagate the pain message; an action potential moves along an afferent fiber to the spinal cord. During transmission (the second phase), the pain impulse moves from the level of the spinal cord to the brain.

How long does chronic pain last?

Acute pain is short-term and self-limiting, often follows a predictable trajectory, and dissipates after an injury heals. Chronic pain lasts 6 months or longer; the pain persists after the predicted trajectory. Persistent pain is another term for chronic pain.

Which system does the nociceptors carry pain signals to?

Nociceptors carry the pain signal to the central nervous system by two primary sensory (or afferent) fibers. Perception indicates the conscious awareness of a painful sensation. Modulation inhibits the pain message producing an analgesic effect.

What is the second phase of pain?

During transmission (the second phase), the pain impulse moves from the level of the spinal cord to the brain. The third phase is perception; the person has conscious awareness of a painful sensation. In phase four, modulation, the neurons from the brainstem release neurotransmitters that block the pain impulse.

Where does somatic pain come from?

Deep somatic pain comes from the blood vessels, joints, tendons, muscles, and bones. Cutaneous pain is derived from skin surface and subcutaneous tissues. Visceral pain originates from the larger interior organs such as the pancreas. Visceral pain originates from the larger interior organs such as the intestine.

Can MRI detect chronic pain?

Chronic pain is transmitted on a cellular level, and current technology such as MRI cannot reliably detect this process. Chronic pain is transmitted on a cellular level, and current technology such as tissue enzyme levels cannot reliably detect this process.

What does a nurse notice about a patient?

A nurse notices that a patient seems calm and peaceful despite an assessment that the patient's injuries might be causing severe pain. The patient tells the nurse that using yoga and meditation lessens the perceptions of pain to tolerable levels.

How long should a nurse leave heat on an injured hip?

1. The length of time that a nurse should leave heat to an injured hip of a patient is no longer than: a. 15 minutes. b. 20 minutes. c. 30 minutes. d. 1 hour. ANS: C. If a heating device is left on more than 30 minutes, the effectiveness of the treatment is diminished, and injury to the tissues may occur.

How much morphine is given?

Morphine is usually given in a dose of 10 mg (one-sixth grain) IM. The usual oral dose is 0.5 gr (30 mg). The order should be called to the attention of the RN so that the intent can be clarified before transcribing the order for the older patient, who usually requires a smaller dose.

How many times per minute does a patient breathe?

During your reassessment, you notice that the patient's respiratory rate has increased to 24 times per minute and he is having increasing trouble breathing. You should: Call medical direction for orders to administer his inhaler.

What does it mean when a 76 year old woman has trouble breathing?

Your 76-year-old female patient is having trouble breathing. When you auscultate her lungs, you hear crackles (rales) and you are concerned that she may have pulmonary edema. Her oxygen saturation is 92 percent, so you place her on 100 percent oxygen via a nonrebreather mask. Her breathing gets a little easier with the oxygen.