Would appreciate some opinions on pain management

Specialties Pain

Published

Hi.

First let me say that I don't want this to end up as a debate over real pain or drug seeking. What I am looking for is reasons why there is such a suspicion of pain patients.

I am in nursing school, and am discouraged, disgusted and quite frankly angry at what I am seeing as the judgemental attitudes of some nurses. How dare a nurses try to decide who is in pain, or to what severity they are feeling pain.

Mind you,I am a chronic pain patient myself. You would never know it most of the time because I live with it all the time. This is a personal issue with me and I just don't get it. Heres the clincher, we are actually being taught how to recognize a drug seeker, and guess what...i have all the red flags of a drug seeker. My kidney stone patient also exhibited all the red flags, too...should I deny him pain meds as I am seeing some nurses do? Not actually denying, just being so busy it takes 2-3 hours to get him the meds.

So, could you tell me what constitutes a 'seeker" in some nurses minds/

I am seriously considering leaving the profession because of this. I am seeing this across the board, from the ED to a med surg floor, to PACU, for goodness sakes!

please help me understand this!

Please understand I am NOT trying to start a heated debate, I am just very, very stunned at what I am seeing.

K-

I feel that if a physician ordered the med, it should be given when requested within the time constraints. If you feel that a pt. may have a "problem" then I think it should be discussed with the physician. Everyone's tolerance is different. We should be objective. Last time I checked no one can crawl into a pts. head and detemine their tolerance.

I too have chronic pain(Crohn's) and a year ago admitted to the med/surg floor where I work. Of course I got stuck with the nurse who is known to not give pain meds easily. She would lecture me for 30 mins. when I would tell her that a pt. needed pain med. Anyway, while a pt. I requested my prescribed pain med. She went to go get it and when she came back she told me bluntly "I hope you're not going to be one of those patients where we never see them in pain or throwing up." Those were her exact words. I worked with her and she treats me like this? I can only imagine how she treats others.

And another thing, I hate when we generalize pain based on the procedure. You know the "my last post op bowel obstruction wasn't on a PCA". I know I'm guilty of it and I'm sure there's others out there.

Specializes in Home Health, Hospice.
KK2000,

From what you are describing, the teaching that's taking place in your school is not in step with current thinking or methods for that matter.

Please don't leave nursing because of it. Once you graduate from school you'll learn the difference between the "ideal" and "real life." I have found that some programs are not in step with real life.

I believe that nursing needs more people like you. People who will take the laments of a patient seriously and not be ready to judge. People exhibit pain in different ways, and not everything goes by the textbook.

Wow, I remember when I went in for a T&A in '74. I was a kid and was not told that it would hurt. They had all these books out for kids "glamorizing" T&A's. That you'd be put out to sleep, but when you woke up you'd get all the ice cream you could ever want!! You'd spend a night or two in the hospital, you'd go home and return to your normal life! WRONG!! Wrong on the "all the ice cream you want" bit and returning to normal life. And they didn't mention the pain. This was at a time in which they didn't have the wong scales and they didn't even ask kids if they were in pain. I was not offered anything the whole stay. I remember laying in bed, thinking I was going to die. I was having very morbid thoughts for a 7yo.

I'm thankful for kids today that this is changing. Some people may say that we are "babying" kids for giving pain meds, because this wasn't done previously. After having gone through what I did at 7, and remember thinking "Where did I want to be buried? What do I want on my grave marker? What will the cemetery look like?" and having thoughts and actually crying because I'd miss mom and dad so much... this at 7 for a T&A! I'm so glad that there are better methods out there now, and I do hope that they continue to address pain issues.

Please don't quit nursing...

Thank you for your reply.

Your post reminded me of a good article I read on pain in infants and children and how science is finding out how much kids really do feel pain.(think circumsion!)

i will try to post the link if anyone's interested.

Sorry about your t&A trauma, must have been awful!

K-

I feel that if a physician ordered the med, it should be given when requested within the time constraints. If you feel that a pt. may have a "problem" then I think it should be discussed with the physician. Everyone's tolerance is different. We should be objective. Last time I checked no one can crawl into a pts. head and detemine their tolerance.

I too have chronic pain(Crohn's) and a year ago admitted to the med/surg floor where I work. Of course I got stuck with the nurse who is known to not give pain meds easily. She would lecture me for 30 mins. when I would tell her that a pt. needed pain med. Anyway, while a pt. I requested my prescribed pain med. She went to go get it and when she came back she told me bluntly "I hope you're not going to be one of those patients where we never see them in pain or throwing up." Those were her exact words. I worked with her and she treats me like this? I can only imagine how she treats others.

And another thing, I hate when we generalize pain based on the procedure. You know the "my last post op bowel obstruction wasn't on a PCA". I know I'm guilty of it and I'm sure there's others out there.

Please tell me more about what types of symptoms you suffer from with Crohns. My friend suffered for years..frequent hospitalizations, TPN, fistulas....she ended up with an ileostomy and has basically been cured.

It really hurts me to hear this! I would like to know what school you are going to!! I work on a med/surg unit and at least 5 out of my 6 patients receive a narcotic pain med at least once in a day. If someone is laughing that does not mean that they are not in pain, it simply means that they are finding ways to deal with it until relief comes. You will always get your "drug seekers", but for every 1 drug seeker you will have 10 that are in true pain. For the sake of your patients, PLEASE do not judge them. Everyone has their own way of dealing with pain. Put yourself in their shoes and think of how it must feel to have to ask for Morphine every 3 hours. Of course they're watching the clock, they are in PAIN!

Like Diabetes, HTN, Throid disease, CAD, Hypercholesterolemia, etc, chronic pain is a disease- In terms of the treatment ramifications, there is no "fix" for the disease, therefore, varied treatments, to include medications, are used to manage the disease prgression, to minimize symptoms and optimize quality of life- If the B/p doesn't respond to the current medication dose, then we raise it and add other meds until the number falls into line- If the blood sugar is too high, we adjust dietary restrictions, increase the oral meds or increase the insulin dosage- In thyroid we go up to .5, .75, .88, 1.0 and in some case, above 1.5 ! Nobody gaives this a second thought - This is perfectly fine from a societal standpoint- You don't find 2 healthcare workers in the hall or 2 people on the street whispering "Do you believe the dose of Cardizem Mrs. Johnson is taking!? She looks fine to me!"

The perception regarding the treatment od chronic pain isn't a patient perceptual problem. It is one of misguided societal mores.

If you believe that a patient has pain, then it deserves the very same aggressive treatment consideration their blood pressure requires.

We are in the business of caring for people- Lets keep our eye on the ball.

Specializes in OBGYN.
Hi.

First let me say that I don't want this to end up as a debate over real pain or drug seeking. What I am looking for is reasons why there is such a suspicion of pain patients.

I am in nursing school, and am discouraged, disgusted and quite frankly angry at what I am seeing as the judgemental attitudes of some nurses. How dare a nurses try to decide who is in pain, or to what severity they are feeling pain.

Mind you,I am a chronic pain patient myself. You would never know it most of the time because I live with it all the time. This is a personal issue with me and I just don't get it. Heres the clincher, we are actually being taught how to recognize a drug seeker, and guess what...i have all the red flags of a drug seeker. My kidney stone patient also exhibited all the red flags, too...should I deny him pain meds as I am seeing some nurses do? Not actually denying, just being so busy it takes 2-3 hours to get him the meds.

So, could you tell me what constitutes a 'seeker" in some nurses minds/

I am seriously considering leaving the profession because of this. I am seeing this across the board, from the ED to a med surg floor, to PACU, for goodness sakes!

please help me understand this!

Please understand I am NOT trying to start a heated debate, I am just very, very stunned at what I am seeing.

K-

hi

i dont like the idea that it takes 2-3 hours to get pain meds to a patient who is in pain. Thats poor nursing care in my opinion. whoever is in pain should be assessed properly and yes pain is a subjective thing. always remember the theory of pain threshold. each ppl have different threshold so why should u cALL them seekers?

Specializes in Home Health, Hospice.
hi

i dont like the idea that it takes 2-3 hours to get pain meds to a patient who is in pain. Thats poor nursing care in my opinion. whoever is in pain should be assessed properly and yes pain is a subjective thing. always remember the theory of pain threshold. each ppl have different threshold so why should u cALL them seekers?

Yes, yes, yes...I totally agree. I am the original poster. Just need to point out that I am a huge advocate for people in pain getting timely and effective meds.

I am a pain patient myself and have been really disappointed, sickened, disgusted etc ec, with the way I have seen patiets being treated in the hospital I was doing clinicals at.(from med surg to the er)

Actually I came very close to quitting school altogether.

Thank you to all that replied-good to know there are nurse that give a darn l out there.

I know what it is like to ask for pain meds and be given the runaround. I know what it is like to be at the ER in pain and be sent home being told the "pain was all in my head".(actual quote from the er doctor, only to have an MRI at my expense and find out had 3 herniated discs in addition to the 3 I already have).

Why are students not being taught enough about pain management???

Maybe it is just the hospital I was at, or the classes I was in, but I feel that the general lessons learned in school were to be wary of thoses c/o pain, no matter what the situation.

I find it very discouraging.

Wow, I am impressed with you as a nursing student...you will be one dynamite nurse!

Unless you are an addictions nurse in a specific facility where it is appropriate, I strongly feel that you(or me) should NOT be labeling ,judging, preventing or treating drug seeking. I work in PACU and I give meds out fairly freely. Most of the time my pts are in acute pain and its obvious. Sometimes though, after being medicated with enough drug to kill a Rhinocerous, some of my pts still claim 10/10(even though I can't in good conscience agree).It doen't matter what I think or believe though, it is about what they feel and believe. I refuse to undermediate ONE, just ONE patient because I have a power trip or are playing know it all nurse. I want to sleep at night. I would feel like cutting my arm off at the though of intentionally withholding meds because I was judging incorrectly.

BabyRN2BE and BLOCDOC, I loved your replies, you are right on.

Bethin, I too have Crohn's and have been lucky to have very few times I was in that much pain EXCEPT once. I went to ER 3 yrs ago with severe pains in my left chest area(mimicked angina). I was 34. The ER doc gave me a knowing look and the a cocktail of stuff to "settle" my "heartburn".

He came back an hour later with his tail between his legs and said "You have acute Pancreatitis, that really hurts". No crap Einstein:angryfire

Please remain a fierce pain advocate

Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.

Hi kk2000 et al,

I guess they don't teach in some nursing schools that the patient is the authority on his own pain. That's rule #1, basic concepts of pain management. Rule #2? The patient has a right to expect a RAPID and EFFECTIVE response to a complaint of pain.

Makes me wonder.

I empathize completely with those of you who have pain issues. And we can only hope that thru education we can make others see that not everyone is a "drug seeker".

If not...I'll get out my aluminum bat and take out a few doctors' femurs...then tell 'em that all they can have is Toradol...that should work just fine.

Sounds like you're doing a fine job advocating for your patients - my hat's off to you and all like you kk2000 - I'm sure you'll make a wonderful nurse.

This issue's a little personal for me, forgive me if I offended anyone.

vamedic4

Just to offer a little balance. Pain meds are addictive. It is perfectly possible to have real chonic pain and be addicted to pain medication. While by no means does everyone who is put on pain meds become addicted, many do. I work with addicts all the time. Addicts lie. So saying that the patient must be the sole judge of their pain sounds a bit simplistic to me.

This is a major issue treatment issue which should be addressed by the treatment team, not left up to the individual judgement of nurses. It is possible, even likely, for nurses to become cynical, particularly in high stress situations. Patients sometimes inadvertently trigger that cynisism. I recall once when I worked in the er, we had a woman who came in with a c/o vague but intense abdominal pain, but with a affect that seemed too controled and calm. She kept asking for, "something for pain". The ER staff, from the Doc on down, interperted this as learned "hospital jargon" and evidence of drug seeking. They treated her appropriately, drawing lab work etc. but with no sense of urgency and no pain meds. Until, that is, her her CBC came back low! Turned out she had a preforated gastric ulcer. She had a hole in her stomach the size of a quarter.

Specializes in Psychiatry, Case Management, also OR/OB.

I agree with others postings here, yes pain is what the patient says it is... but lots of people don't believe you!!! I too am a chronic pain sufferer. and am just beginning (after 6.5 years) to take control of my own needs. I have a PCP who can't or won't develop a treatment plan with me, This is largely why the JACHO created pain as the 7th vital sign, because we (I include myself in that group) collectlvely were ignoring it. Patients are entitled to pain relief, and should seek appropriate avenues (referrals to PT, pain specialists, whatever it takes to help themselves). I say this only because I've been sitting back, still hurting and not getting any real treatment or treatment plan. So stick to your guns ladies and gentleman.

Morghan

Unfortunately I find that most nurses are not managing their patient's pain appropriately. Recent comments I have heard during report:

1. She hurt all night but I only had Tylenol ordered. It didn't do any good. (Please note that RN did not call MD to report pt's unrelieved pain)

2. He kept call for pain meds every hour. I kept telling him he could only get it every 4 hours. (Also did not call MD)

3. She didn't sleep at all last night. I was giving the maximum dose but I was worried about her getting too sleepy.

4. He kept rating his pain from 8 to 10, but he tested positive for marijuana in the ER so I figure he is just drug-seeking so I didn't call the doctor.

This is the majority of attitudes I am finding all over the country.

Please remember:

PAIN IS THE 5TH VITAL SIGN!

YOUR PATIENT'S PAIN IS WHAT THEY SAY IT IS.

JUST BECAUSE YOUR PT IS SLEEPING DOESN'T MEAN THEY AREN'T IN PAIN

I respond to these nurses in different ways according to the situation. I try to be casual and non-critical. I try to approach it with a sense of humor and irreverence.

I joking remind them that we do not work on an alcohol or drug dependency unit so my priority is not getting this guy off drugs, let the rehab nurses worry about that. Besides, you won't have to worry too much about oversedating him, he probably has a high tolerance. Also, just because you are an addict, doesn't mean that you aren't in pain. Some pt's are addicts because "we" made them so! Poor woman has terrible chronic back pain and the meds we have to offer are usually pathetically uneffective and just for good measure, she has become dependent on them and she can't get anymore because she is dependent and her back pain is worse.

When I get report about a "drug seeker" that has been calling "every four hours because he knows it is time to get another pill", or "I'll look in and he is sleeping but 10 minutes later he is calling for pain meds", I realize that this patient will probably be distrustful, angry, anxious, tired and/or hopeless and I will need to address these issues head on. If it is ordered, I usually walk into the room with the pain med saying that I know they have been hurting all night but I will not stop until we get this under control. I will be in here with your meds as soon as they can be given again. If your pain is not gone in an hour, call me and I will call the doctor and let her know. I do not want you to be in pain today, it slows healing, increases you blood pressure and keeps you from participating in your recovery. Don't worry, I will take care of this. I then review the pain scale and get a description of their pain: Where? What does it feel like, stabbing, aching, burning, etc? Does the medicine help? How soon has it been coming back? If they are still in pain when I reassess in 30-60 minutes (depending on the med), and I have no other meds or comfort measures to try, I will always call the doctor to let them know. Please be your patient's advocate when you speak to the doctor. Many doctors are not comfortable treating pain or are too cautious. If what they order doesn't work, call them back again! You are all that patient has to count on.

When appropriate as far as the patient's comfort and consciousness level, I will then try to get as much info as possible about their pain. Does it come and go or is it all the time? Does anything you do make it worse or better? What do you do at home for pain? Are you having problems with constipation? How is it affecting your lifestyle, work, family, friends? I review deep breathing and relaxation exercises and I try reassure them that I am on their side and that I want them to call me for anything. They may test me by calling frequently or being quick to accuse or distrusting my assurances. I just keep them informed of what I am doing on their behalf and treat them respectfully and try not to be judgemental about anyone's history or lifestyle.

It may sound simplistic, but I always think "what if this was my husband or Mom or sister"? How would I want them to be treated? If we all approach every patient with this thought, we can all go to bed every night knowing that someone's life was better that day because of us.

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