Pain is a highly subjective state in which a variety of unpleasant sensations and a wide range of distressing factors may be experienced by the sufferer. Pain may be a symptom of injury or illness. Pain may also arise from emotional, psychological, cultural, or spiritual distress. Pain can be very difficult to explain, because it is unique to the individual; pain should be accepted as described by the sufferer. Pain assessment can be challenging, especially in elderly patients, where cognitive impairment and sensory-perceptual deficits are more common.
Acute Pain Defining Characteristics
- Patient reports pain
- Guarding behavior, protecting body part
- Self-focused
- Narrowed focus (e.g., altered time perception, withdrawal from social or physical contact)
- Relief or distraction behavior (e.g., moaning, crying, pacing, seeking out other people or activities, restlessness)
- Facial mask of pain
- Alteration in muscle tone: listlessness or flaccidness; rigidity or tension
- Autonomic responses (e.g., diaphoresis; change in blood pressure [BP], pulse rate; pupillary dilation; change in respiratory rate; pallor; nausea)
- Postoperative pain
- Cardiovascular pain
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Obstetrical pain
- Pain resulting from medical problems
- Pain resulting from diagnostic procedures or medical treatments
- Pain resulting from trauma
- Pain resulting from emotional, psychological, spiritual, or cultural distress
Suggested NOC Labels
- Comfort Level
- Medication Response
- Pain Control
Suggested NIC Labels
- Analgesic Administration
- Conscious Sedation
- Pain Management
- Patient-Controlled Analgesia Assistance
- Expected Outcomes
- Patient verbalizes adequate relief of pain or ability to cope with incompletely relieved pain.