Patient is resting quietly with eyes closed, no c/o pain. What nurse has never, ever, in their career documented something along these lines? I know I am guilty of this in the past, but I also know that if a patient is sleeping this does not mean they are pain free. Nurses Announcements Archive Article
I just awoke and opened my eyes for only a split second to barely be able to make out the face of my recovery nurse. I feel so weak and powerless right now, the anesthesia must not have worn off yet. She just asked me if I want to see the gallstones I had removed; of course I want to see them, I'm a nurse and that's what we do.
The only thing I really want to do right now though is die, this crushing pain in my chest is so unbearable. I want to tell this nurse so badly, but I just can't find the strength to open my mouth.
I just had my gallbladder removed and this pain feels just like the worst gallbladder attack I had a couple weeks ago. The nurse does finally ask if I'm in pain and I shake my head yes, but I don't open my eyes because I just can't. I'm sure she thinks I'm fine because I'm resting, but this is the worst pain I've ever had in my life.
I finally get moved to a room on the floor where my husband and 1 month old son are waiting for me. I'm more awake now and able to voice my complaint of crushing chest pain.
The nurse quickly gives me 3 mg of morphine which never really does anything to make me feel better.
Once at home I'm able to take my Percocet and finally I am pain free and able to relax. It seemed like that pain would never go away. I am no sissy when it comes to pain, I gave birth 1 month prior to this with no epidural, no spinal analgesic, and no IV pain meds. My drug free natural lady partsl delivery was a breeze compared to the pain I had after surgery.
I returned to work about a month later and as I took over care of a patient in recovery the nurse told me, "she wakes up every few minutes and says she has pain but she goes right back to sleep."
I quickly let this nurse know that just because the patient is sleeping does not mean they are without pain. As soon as the patient was all settled in and checked the orders for some pain medicine. Next time you begin to document that the patient is sleeping and without c/o's, please reconsider if you truly know what the patient' s pain level is.