The way we ask for someone's pain level?

Nurses General Nursing

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I've come across patients, usually post op, that needs to be routinely assessed on their pain levels.

Now I'm trying to look for a way to ask them on their pain level without planting into their minds the idea that they're actually feeling pain. Of course we can plan a response from their report, but we might be addressing pain that is actually not present in that moment.

Can we ask a general question of "how are you feeling right now?", instead of "are you feeling any pain right now?" Should we be direct or indirect in these kind of situations?

Is that possible? Thanks for your time! :)

I know post ops are expected to have pain. So when I worked in that setting, I'd say "on a scale of one to ten, with 'one' being a small pinch and 'ten' being an anvil dropped on your head, what level pain are you in?

Found out quick, handled appropriately, and usually got a smile from a patient that hadn't yet cracked one :)

Specializes in Critical Care.

Unless these patients are under hypnosis they likely aren't so suggestible that they will perceive no pain until you ask them about pain, if they are post-op then it's most likely the predictable real pain they're feeling rather than just feeling pain because you suggested it. You could ask if they are having pain before you ask for a pain level, this it least doesn't assume they have an elevated pain level. Typically though, pain in post-op patients should be expected and treated proactively.

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

I go straight forward and ask "Are you in pain?" This is exactly how it is worded in our charting system. If yes, the I with the whole 1 to 10 thing--the they can follow that. I have had some people who I would think could do it, and they can "handle" it. If they aren't in pain, I can't imagine that my question will inflict pain--whether real or perceived--upon that many people.

Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

Being cut open is going to hurt.

Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

I rarely ask " Are you in pain?" Why, because I work Trauma and we deal with a huge population of post surg. pt's ORIF's broken bones, ribs etc so I know they are in pain.. I ask " Do you need anything for pain" and if they say yes, I then ask for a number and medicate.. If they say NO, I remind them to not let the pain get out of hand and to not be afraid to ask.. Many times it's cultural. The pt's don't want to ask or are scared to ask because they think they are bothering us..

I agree with most replies... You should ask about pain. Patients are, usually, not well people and are in your care for a reason.

You could ask,

"Are you in any pain? Tell me from 0-10 the level you're experiencing. 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst you've felt."

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I wanted to add, pain is considered a vital sign and should be assessed as frequently if not more.

I am concerned about relieving pain and not with planting the " idea" of pain in their head. I'm sure it happens but it's such a small % compared to the % truly in pain.

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If someone is planning to abuse the pain scale system in order to get drugs, your word choice will have very little to do with it.

I just got out of the hospital after a laparotomy for a bowel obstruction (10 days, NG tube, 6" incision, 20 staples). I agree with those who say just ask directly. One nurse would ask "How are you doing with pain?" Then "please give me a number rating". Not only did she get the standard, documentable 1-10 scale number used to assess, compare, evaluate...she got insight into how I was coping with it. That being said - it was ONE nurse - I am absolutely appalled by the attitudes of nurses and lack of adequate control. I obviously had good reason to be in pain and had appropriate orders but there seems to be this...fear? Disdain? Unveiled judgement? Among nurses regarding pain control. What exactly is the issue? Ps I agree with SoldierNurse22.

I also like to be direct about pain. Asking a patient how they feel is too vague.

If a person is in pain, asking about it is not going to make it hurt any worse.

Pain control varies depending on what you want a patient to do. Lying in bed with ortho injuries is simple. Having to cough, deep breathe and get out of bed often requires enough pain control to function.

Specializes in ED.

I always ask "on a scale of zero to ten, zero being no pain and ten being the worst pain of your life, how much pain are you in right now?" Per my facility's policy, I must have a number. Now if they say ten and then I observe them laughing with friends and playing on their phone...I chart what I see. But I don't try to skirt around asking about pain to avoid "planting ideas" in their mind.

If a patient says they have pain, they have pain, medicate them. It is worse to not medicate someone with pain then to medicate someone that has no pain. I have had many "drug seeking" patients who turn out to have gall stones, panccreatitis etc and because RNs, Drs are so afraid to get these people "high" they wont medicate them properly and I think it is wrong. Just be direct and ask!

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