Documenting pain level during colonoscopy

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Specializes in OR, PACU, GI, med-surg, OB, school nursing.

i'm in the middle of redoing the moderate sedation flowsheet for gi endoscopy in my hospital, and have been looking at lots of different examples. it seems that few hospitals/endo centers document on pain level during endoscopies.

currently, our flowsheet has a post-anesthesia recovery scale, which i think is not appropriate for procedural sedation. now i am considering a simple sedation scale along with the colorado behavioral pain scale, which is an objective 0-10 pain scale. i would love to hear the opinions of other gi nurses regarding pain documentation during endoscopy.

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check out my blog: http://bootynurse.blogspot.com

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BootyNurse, I read your blog. I'll have my scope done at YOUR hospital Endo unit, thank you, rather than the large hospital's Endo unit you visited!!!!

The patient w/the SAT drops & neck position didn't help? VERY suggestive of OSA, obstructive sleep apnea. A person does not have to be elderly, male, obese or even have a large neck circumference to have OSA.

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Specializes in OR, PACU, GI, med-surg, OB, school nursing.

Yes, I'm quite sure that patient had undiagnosed sleep apnea. In addition to the flowsheet, I'm working on a pre-procedure form for the docs to fill out that includes questions on airway and sleep apnea.

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Good for you, BootyNurse!! I DEFINITELY would feel more secure having YOU in attendance for my scopes. You've got a much better run unit than that hospital you visited!!! Be proud of what you are accomplishing!

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