Patient's Rights on Pain Management
Pain Philosophy
All patients will be informed that pain management is an important part of their care. Pain will be monitored as a vital sign. Treatment will be individualized based on patient needs.
All Patients Have the Right to:
- have the report of pain believed and treated with respect
- a quick response when reporting pain
- a thorough assessment of the pain including the presence, quality, and intensity of the pain
- assist in setting a goal for pain relief and work towards meeting that goal
- be educated regarding their pain
- further evaluation if their pain is unrelieved
What is Pain?
Pain is your body's way of reacting to injury or illness. Everybody reacts to
pain in different ways. What you think is painful may not be painful to someone
else, but pain is whatever you say it is!
What Causes Pain?
Many things, such as an injury, surgery, or a disease can cause pain. Some pain
is caused by pressure on a nerve, such as a cancer tumor. Other pain is caused
when nerves are irritated or injured. After an injury or surgery you may not
want to move the painful part of your body at all, but you may have pain because
you are not moving this body part. Sometimes there is no clear reason for your
pain.
Why is Pain Control Important?
Pain can affect your appetite, how well you sleep, your energy, and your ability to do things. Pain can also affect your mood and relationships with others. If caregivers can help you control your pain, you will suffer less and can even heal faster.
Pain Management
Your nurses will be asking you often whether you have any pain. If you answer yes, they will ask you to rate your pain on a 0 to 10 pain scale. Zero means that you have no pain and 10 means the worst pain imaginable. Management of your pain is important. Please tell us if we are not managing your pain to your satisfaction. If appropriate response is not received, request to see the nursing supervisor.
What Question Will Your Caregiver Ask About Pain?
- Quality - How does your pain feel? (aching, sharp, tingling, pulling, burning, dull, numb, pressing, throbbing, pricking)
- Intensity - What number/picture best describes your pain?
- Location - Where on your body is your pain?
- Duration - Is pain always there? Does it come and go (breakthrough pain)?
- Triggers - What positions, activities, or situations make the pain worse? Make the pain better?
- Effects - How has pain affected important parts of your life? (relationships, eating, energy, work, sleep, recreation, moods)
View the
Pain
ScaleCare
The best way to lessen pain is to treat the cause of the pain. Almost all types of pain, including cancer pain, can be controlled with medicine and other treatments. It may not be possible to get rid of you pain completely, but it is possible to lower the pain level so you can be comfortable enough doing everyday things. You and your caregiver will work together to find what pain control treatments are best for you. Always tell your caregiver if the pain gets worse. Ask your caregiver if you want more information on any pain control treatments.
Restraints
Hospitalization for some people can be a stressful situation and may make one feel disoriented. Sometimes restraints are needed to protect the patient from injury. Having a family member sit with the patient helps in reorienting the patient to where he/she is at, what time of the day it is, and why they are in the hospital, alleviating the need for restraints.
If restraints are necessary, the patient and significant others will be notified to the reason for the restraint and any other interventions that will be attempted. We encourage you and your family to stay with your loved one. If this is not always possible, please let your nurse or physician know.
If the alternative to restraint strategies have failed, the least restrictive restraint shall be used. Ask your nurse for more information on restraints.
