Pre Test – Current Trends in Pain Management

Pain is defined as an unpleasant physical and emotional experience.

As a nurse you have an ethical obligation to do everything within the scope of nursing practice to provide relief of pain.

The American Pain Society advocates the assessment of pain as being the “fifth vital sign.”

Pain is a physical and emotional experience, because the same area in the brain responsible for registering pain also registers emotion.

The lack of pain expression, most likely means that the individual is not experiencing any pain.

When you have a cut or tissue injury, the release of prostaglandin triggers the pain response.

An example of severe neuropathic pain is post-herpetic neuralgia.

Neuropathic pain generally responds well to NSAIDS or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

The most important factor in pain assessment is the patient’s report of his or her pain.

The Wong-Baker FACES pain rating scale is only effective for children.

In the assessment and treatment of pain, it is best to choose the pain control options that are appropriate for both the patient and the family.

Encouraging individuals to vent feelings and emotions can sometimes be beneficial in modifying the source of pain.

Physical measures such as a back rub or heat application should not be used for pain relief.

IM injections are more effective in relieving pain than oral medications.

Narcotics should be given only on a PRN basis for severe chronic pain.

Morphine should be carefully increased because of its limited pain control.

Demerol or Meperidine should be the drug of choice for prolonged pain.

The most common side effect of opioid treatment is constipation.

Severe pain should be considered an emergency.

Every patient/resident assessment should include pain assessment.