How do you respond to a resident who gets attention by pretending to be in pain?

Nurses General Nursing

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:confused:

I am trying to prepare myself for a CNA interview tomorrow and found this question while searching for CNA interview questions. I'm a brand new CNA so I'm honestly not sure how I would handle this situation:

Mrs. Jones is in the facility for a fractured hip. She constantly likes attn. by putting on the call light pretending to be in pain. Everyone on the hall is ignoring her. You pass by the room and hear her crying what is your response?

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Always remember this........Pain is what the patient says it is! This is what they teach us in nursing school!

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Specializes in LTC.

One of the first things you learn about pain is "pain is what the patient says it is."

So you address it in the ways a CNA can address pain.

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Have to investigate if someone is crying out...something else could have happened, she;s most likely frightened, many issues can intensify pain...

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Mrs. Jones is in the facility for a fractured hip. She constantly likes attn. by putting on the call light pretending to be in pain. Everyone on the hall is ignoring her. You pass by the room and hear her crying what is your response?

One important part of this question is that there is an assumption that she is pretending to be in pain. Based on what? That she is constantly putting on her call light? Maybe the nurse has decided that she isn't really in pain and hasn't given her anything. Maybe she is getting too low a dose or Tylenol in place of Percocet. Could be that the doc needs to order something stronger because whatever she's getting is not adequate.

A disturbing statement is that everyone is ignoring her. This is not a good way to handle such a patient.

You take the complaint of physical pain seriously and report it to the nurse.

But you can also recognize the fact that loneliness and depression hurt. Some patients actually convert that emotional discomfort into a physical response and they really do hurt. Others just ask for the attention that will give them some sense of connection and comfort.

In any case, someone needs to respond to the patient, if only to say that they care. You can also check her positioning, see if she needs to use the bedpan, and find out if there is anything else causing her discomfort. Going into her room periodically for just a short time can do much to alleviate or lessen emotional pain. But you still report pain complaints to the nurse.

And you report to the nurse again if nothing improves.

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

And if she's in the hospital for a fractured hip, shes NOT faking pain to get attention. She legitimately needs narcotics. As other posters have said, pain is whatever a patient says it is. The first thing you'll learn in the hospital is that people have different pain tolerances. Some will carry on, cry, wail and thrash in their beds. Others will literally bite the bedrails to keep from crying out. The stoic one doesn't necessarily feel less pain and the loud one isn't necessarily putting on a show. Sometimes this is a cultural thing. Sometimes it's just a personal thing. But if you have a patient who is crying out and the staff is avoiding going to her aid, there's something seriously wrong there. And it's not the patient.

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Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.

I absolutley agree with the other posters....the pain is what the patient says it is! This poor lady is doing more than saying....she's crying and moaning....what makes you think she is trying to get attention? Especially as you have no experience.

We are taught in nursing school and we observe in clinicals and of course on the floor working that pain is manifested in many ways. Not all of them are verbal. In fact, most are not. I worked in PICU for many, many years. Other than crying, signs of pain are grimacing, guarding, tachycardia, tachypnea, rocking, moaning, and also acting out. This list is not all inclusive. I am sure there are more I am forgetting right now.

THis lady needs an advocate...someone to find out why she is in pain and then FIX it.

I hope you develop a little more compassion as you work...I sure would not want to have anyone taking care of my 86year old mother with an attitude like this.

Unresolved pain is an issue that is near and dear to my heart....I have had 4 major surgeries and know first hand what it is like to lay in a hospital bed in extreme pain and see and hear the staff go on about their business.

Until I called for an anesthesia consult...but that's another story.

s

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.
:confused:

I am trying to prepare myself for a CNA interview tomorrow and found this question while searching for CNA interview questions. I'm a brand new CNA so I'm honestly not sure how I would handle this situation:

Mrs. Jones is in the facility for a fractured hip. She constantly likes attn. by putting on the call light pretending to be in pain. Everyone on the hall is ignoring her. You pass by the room and hear her crying what is your response?

I agree with the other posters...pain is what the pt says it is. If she's crying out, you need to see what she wants. She may be in need of pain meds, or just someone to adjust her pillow. Let the nurse know.

For example, on a pain scale of 0-10, I'm going to take something (Tylenol or Motrin) if my pain is 2 or 3. On the other hand, my husband, who has prostate CA with mets and is on a long-acting narcotic, will rate his pain level at 7 or 8 before he takes his breakthrough meds. Pain is what the pt says it is. You should NEVER ignore a call light.

Good luck with your interview!

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Fractured hip = pain.

I don't know why she would need to pretend.

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Specializes in mostly in the basement.

I hope you develop a little more compassion as you work...I sure would not want to have anyone taking care of my 86year old mother with an attitude like this.

Let's see....

Curious, eager rookie or opinionated, quick w/the negative assumptions vet?

Tell you what, if it were my elderly mom I sure know which I'd much rather have

Read much?:rolleyes:

Good luck, OP.

Good advice abounds...

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what makes you think she is trying to get attention? Especially as you have no experience?

I hope you develop a little more compassion as you work...I sure would not want to have anyone taking care of my 86year old mother with an attitude like this.

This was NOT the OP's attitude. She was quoting a site with possible questions for CNA job interviews.
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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.
I hope you develop a little more compassion as you work...I sure would not want to have anyone taking care of my 86year old mother with an attitude like this.

Um, you need to go back and re-read the OP. This was a hypothetical interview question. She is an inexperienced CNA and simply wanted to know how she should answer the question.

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