[Mystery5]

I confess, I hate the pain scale. It's alright for some folks who like to quantify everything, but with many people I find that it is an annoying way to communicate. I hate this mandated, cookie cutter type of interaction. It reminds me of going to Safeway and having them all say the same lines to you everytime. I think the pain scale is overrated and utterly annoying.

[Chaya]

ITA, but as long as TPTB want reams and reams of documentation I'll have to sling this BS at them. A fair number of my pts cannot think in those terms so I have to put it into words for them, them write it down in numbers. More work.

[kim93079]

personally I like it because it gives a way to try to rate something that is highly subjective. It gives a more tangible symptom to deal with and shows that relief measures have worked.

[Tweety]

I don't like the cookie cutter scripts we sometimes have to spout out. I'd rather be more spontaneous in my "customer service".

However, I work on a trauma unit and spend most of my time controlling pain and dealing with pain. I like to know what my patients pain level is and if the treatment is effective or not. The pain scale is a good way to assess that.

[actioncat]

Oh God! I love this question. I totally agree, Mystery.

[SmilingBluEyes]

I think the pain scale is useful sometimes for children, mentally-challenged or other people who are not always able to express their pain in other ways. Yes, sometimes, we can "See" people are in pain, other times, not. Some laugh when in pain (Believe it or not, I do----to dispel worry on the parts of others and relieve stress). Not all people in pain behave the same way.

Besides using vital signs (which also may fail to tell me if a patient is in pain)--- It gives some people a way to express how much in pain they are, in terms I can understand (as I can never say I know exactly how their pain affects them at the time).

Do I "like it" (the pain scale)? Not really. I find it cumbersome and insufficient most times. But for some people, it's the only way I have to assess and document their pain and what interventions work, (numbers changing)--- and what others don't. Lacking a better way that complies with JCAHO (*sigh*), I will have to continue to use it, I guess.......

[Brotherbob]

I like the pain scale when evaluating pain relief. It is something to relate to. Does not work for every patient, but is better than nothing.

[prmenrs]

If you hate the adult scale, try using the Premature Infant Pain Profile, or whatever it's called. The baby gets a 3 for sleeping. The Newborn one is better. And a post-op that's just laying there very still, not moving, w/his eyes closed, doesn't score any higher till his heart rate goes up and sat goes down. Dumb, can we say dumb?

[chad75]

I don't like the adult pain scale. If you get many people with chronic problems, they near curse at you when you ask them to rate their pain. I also don't think its neccesarily accurate, it seemed I got many "10" answers when I worked on a med surg unit by people who were chatting calmy with family, laughing/smiling 5 days post op. I know pain is whatever the patient says it is (nursing 101), but honestly, during the worst GI pain imaginable "10" you aren't going to be scarfing down taco bell while having an amiable conversation on the phone(actualy have had that situation). Or the 10 pain level who falls asleep in the five minutes it took you to get their meds.

The patient who stands up in his room leaning on the bedside table because he can't lay down due to back pain could easily be a 8. Pancreatic cancer I hear can be excruciating. Overall I think the pain scale is a joke and not really understood by patients even after you explain it, or if they do understand it they choose to over rate their pain maybe in hopes of getting more medication or getting it faster, we live in a "more is better" society. I'm not suggesting said people are drug addicts, just a bit over zealous, they are the type of people that use one and a half scoops of laundry detergent instead of the recomended one, or take four ES Tylenol.

[JVanRN]

I'm not suggesting said people are drug addicts, just a bit over zealous, they are the type of people that use one and a half scoops of laundry detergent instead of the recomended one, or take four ES Tylenol.

Wow...I use one and 1/2 scoops of laundry detergent...my boyfriend called me on that the other day sorry I know that is totally off base...it's was just funny cuz we got into the dumbest arguement over it (he wins...I will not admit this to him)....

Back to question at hand...i think in theory the pain scale is a good idea but most of the time I just get a blank stare when trying to explain it....Some times with adults I use the faces that your supposed to use with kids and it works better....in neonatal we use the N-PASS (neonatal pain and sedation scale) I like it okay i guess.