Long-Term Care

ASSESSING PAIN

LTC Nursing Assistant Trainer, January 11, 2006

When CNAs report residents' pain, they should use the residents' own words. If CNAs use their words to describe pain someone else feels, important details may be missed. When assessing pain, healthcare providers should try to determine the cause of the pain and select the best method of relieving it. To do this, gather the following information about residents' pain:

* Location (Where is the pain?)

* Type (Is it aching, sharp, dull, burning, etc.?)

* Onset (Did something bring on the pain? Was it sudden or gradual?)

* Aggravating or relieving factors (What helps or makes the pain worse?)

* Intensity (How strong is the pain?)

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