Tip of the week: Using pain scales
Contemporary Long-Term Care Weekly, May 21, 2009
When assessing pain by using a pain scale, consider the resident’s hearing and vision. Scales with large print can be indispensable. Enlarging the scales on the copy machine may be helpful. Make sure the resident can hear you and allow adequate time for him or her to process your questions and respond. Residents with cognitive impairment and delirium may surprise you. Don’t assume that the resident cannot understand. Experiment with several pain scales. Be patient, and don’t give up quickly. Many can describe their pain accurately.
This is an excerpt from HCPro’s book, Resident Assessment and Monitoring in Long-Term Care, by Barbara Acello, RN, MSN.
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