I work in an urgent care clinic and many times, patients come in requiring short procedures (minor burn management, wound care). I am wondering, from your personal experiences (maybe even as a patient), what are some strategies to help your patients cope with short term, acute pain? I suppose the strategies vary by population too.
Give them directions? ("take deep breaths")
Try to talk to them about something irrelevant? (I am bad at doing this because I can't focus on a conversation while performing a procedure very well.....)
When I am getting my blood drawn (painful, but sort of nerve wrecking still) or having wound care done, I prefer not say anything so I can go to my happy place.
