Wake up...Are you in pain?

Published

Ok, so what is the consensus here? I was taught that one can be in pain and be asleep. So do I wake up my PACU patient every 15 minutes to question them, or do I chart "pt sleeping"? We must chart every 15 minute vitals on all PACU pts, which includes the pain "vital sign"(which I still maintain is an assessment not a VS). What to do? I don't want to ignore pain, but I will not medicate a sleeping pt!

Specializes in ICU.

Hey Dave! when we put togther that thread we should think about adding "The Top Ten Golden Rules of Pain Managment"

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey Gwenith:

You guys should start a web site with your own tutorials and CEUs. I need CEUs and am very willing to learn anything you guys would be willing to teach. Seriously :)

I have invited our Hospice company to come out to our facility to give lectures to us on proper pain management, 45min is not enough time to learn all there is to know.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I only pick up one nasty tone here and it isnt dave or fab. If that means I am part of their click or clan or whatever yippy skippy for me. I can attest to the waking up in a full blown pain crisis. This happened to me when I had my TAH/BSO. I had a fentanyl pca pump which was rediculous. Of course I fell asleep and had not pushed my button enough and was in horrid agony when I woke up. I have no idea how much or what they gave me but the nurse had to push quite a few syringes of whatever and it took what felt like hours to get back under control. If anyone ever told me not to wake a sleeping pain pt just to check on their pain I would pitch a fit. I have been there and I consider it abuse to not adequetly treat pain just cause it is easier not to wake someone. I have my flame retardent suit on and am in a bad mood just so ya know.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I only pick up one nasty tone here and it isnt dave or fab. If that means I am part of their click or clan or whatever yippy skippy for me. I can attest to the waking up in a full blown pain crisis. This happened to me when I had my TAH/BSO. I had a fentanyl pca pump which was rediculous. Of course I fell asleep and had not pushed my button enough and was in horrid agony when I woke up. I have no idea how much or what they gave me but the nurse had to push quite a few syringes of whatever and it took what felt like hours to get back under control. If anyone ever told me not to wake a sleeping pain pt just to check on their pain I would pitch a fit. I have been there and I consider it abuse to not adequetly treat pain just cause it is easier not to wake someone. I have my flame retardent suit on and am in a bad mood just so ya know.

No flame needed Angel...

You're just speaking some GREAT nursing!

-Dave, who supports everything you say.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hey Dave! when we put togther that thread we should think about adding "The Top Ten Golden Rules of Pain Managment"

Can we have one called "Rules of the pain managment forum?"

-Dave:uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I dont understand. Isnt it just common sense and taught in most nursing schools worth their salt that it is easier and better to keep pain under control than to attempt to get out of control pain back under control. Why cant nurses just stop and think how they would want their pain treated. So annoying and scarey.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It makes sense, but apparently it's not common.

Ofcourse sense never has been :D

And yes, very scary.... Certainly would hope someone would wake ME up so I don't wake up and find myself in trouble.

-Dave

Up Vote Up Vote ×

shish dont tell but I think we won the debate. YIPPY

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I know... :D

hehehe

-Dave

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sorry,

I missed something. Congrats to the winners.P.S. I've been at Medscape, (The one one back pain only gave CEUs to Physicians) Earned 1.2 more CEUs at medscape on pain as the 6th Vital sign thanks to Dave. See I'm tryin to educate myself. I think I'll stick around this forum for a while.

Sorry you had to go through that Angelbear, you shouldn't have had to.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks caffine. And BTW nurses who are always trying to educate themselves are the best nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If five doctors disagreed than I would say you did not present the statement as it is. By reading many of your replies, I don't doubt this at all. Soud like a doctor wanabe.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion