Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
(Figure 1)
SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL FOR PAIN
I. ASSESSMENT (self report)
� Location
� Intensity (rating scale 0-10) What level of pain relief do
you expect?
� Quality
� Onset/ Duration
� Precipitating factors
II. CURRENT MANAGEMENT
� What are you doing to relieve the pain?
� Pharmacological:Medication, timing (relief: scale 0-10).
� Non- Pharmacological Measures. List specific?
III. EVALUATION OF ADEQUACY
� Misconceptions: For example unrealistic expectations of
pain relief and medication effect.
� Did relief meet expectations?
� Interventions for pain management
IV. INTERVENTIONS
� Teach pain management strategies
� Teach correct method of taking medications i.e. timing,
amount, etc.
� If pain relief not adequate or side effects present- call MD
� Teach to rate relief obtained and record every 2 hours.
Non-pharmacologically
� Teach cognitive and behavioral strategies i.e., breathing
techniques, relaxation, imagery, TV, music
V. OUTCOMES
� Self-report, rating scale should indicate a decrease in pain.
� Use pharmacological and non-pharmacological
interventions appropriately to decrease pain.
Bibliography
Ackley, B. J., & Ladwig, G. B. (1999). Nursing Diagnosis Handbook:
Guide to Planning Care. St Louis: Mosby.
Wilkinson, J. M. (2000). Nursing Handbook with NIC Interventions
and NOC Outcomes. Upper Saddle: Prentice Hall Health.
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