Resultatet av sjuksköterskans användande av smärtskattningsinstrument vid akut smärta

: En litteraturstudie

Abstract

Background: Pain is one of the most common reasons for seeking emergency care. Adequate pain assessment is a prerequisite for good pain management. Aim: To illustrate the results of the nurse's use of pain assessment tools for the assessment of acute pain in adult patients in the emergency department. Method: Literature study with a systematic approach. Results: Choice of pain assessment tool: VAS and NRS are reliable tools for the measurement of acute pain. Professional pain management: The use of pain assessment tools shortened the time to pain relief, while more patients received analgesics. Experienced versus interpreted pain: Nurses often underestimated the patients' pain intensity. Continuously documented pain assessments: To assure that patients get the best pain management possible, documented pain assessments at enrollment and continuously to discharge are required. With regular pain assessment and documentation patients' pain development and possible treatment outcomes can be followed. Conclusion: The prerequisite for adequate pain management is a pain analysis performed with a pain assessment tool. The use of pain assessment tools leads to more patients getting adequate pain relief more rapidly. Pain rating scales are excellent tools to assess pain. A method to improve pain treatment may be to have policies and guidelines that advocate the use of pain rating scales.