What is nursing assessment for pain?

Answer 1

In modern nursing, pain is assessed using the "Holy 8 plus one" or "PQRST" series of questions, which are as follows:

HOLY 8 PLUS 1:

1. Onset (When did it start?)

2. Location (Where does it hurt? Does the pain spread anywhere else?)

3. Quality (Dull, achy, sharp, stabbing, etc.)

4. Quantity (Using a pain scale, such as 1-10 or FACES scale for kids)

5. Frequency and Duration (How often do you have this pain? How long does it last?)

6. Aggravating and Alleviating factors (does anything make it better/worse?)

7. Associated Symptoms (is the pain accompanied by nausea/diarrhea/weakness etc.)

8. Course (How often do you have this pain? Have you experienced this pain before? Do you have times when you are pain free?)

PLUS ONE

Ask the patient what they think may be causing the pain (You'd be surprised how many clues we can glean from this)

PQRST:

P (Precipitating/Palliative/Provocative Factors): What were you doing when the pain started? Does anything make it better or worse?

Q (Quality/Quantity): What does it feel like? To what degree is the pain affecting your ability to perform your usual daily activities?

R (Region/Radiation/Related Symptoms): Can you point to where it hurts? Does the pain occur or spread anywhere else?

S (Severity): On a pain scale, how does your pain rate? (1-10, FACES, etc.)

T: (Timing): When did the pain begin? How long does/did it last? How often does it occur? Do you have times when you are pain free?

I am currently in nusring school, studying for my BSN.

Answer 2

A nurse assesses pain during each interaction with any patient. Post-surgical and cancer patients should be assessed both before and after pain medication injections, as well as during all interactions. In addition, a nurse must record in the patient's medical record the observations made and questions/responses about pain.

For example:

While assisting in linen change, patient was groaning and holding side. When asked about pain level, patient responded "It's 100 on a scale of 1 to 10". Adminstered xxx medication xxx mg. as per order Right buttock. Re-assessed after 30 minutes. Patient laughing with visitors and reports, "It's much less now."