aguerra

Working with a population who wants to be completely pain free and want to medicate for every ache is really difficult. Working with patients who suffer from addiction or have addictive tendencies can be so tiring on your patience and your nerves. I work med surg and patients fully expect to be 100% pain free after surgery, and expect to take dilaudid IV all the way up until the time they roll out the door. I always include in my "my name is Alex and I'll be your nurse today" schpiel that you will not be completely pain free because of X,Y and Z but we will try this interventions to manage your pain. working outpatient or in a clinic is obviously a different setting, but many times by setting the tone of what the expectations are "your pain won't be a 9-10, but if we can get it to a 5 then thats ok" kinda thing. Advising the patient on what they can do at home; rest, ice, heat, alternating narcotics with non narcotic NSAIDs or even an herbal something or another, but the easiest way to say it, is just to say that you are trying to manage the pain, but more than likely it will not be 100% gone. Hope that helps!