Pain Assessment for Nursing Competencies I | NURS 220, Exams of Health sciences

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Pain Assessment 1

Pain Assessment Using Brief Pain Inventory

Natalia Gorski

NURS 220

Jan Thomson May 13,

Pain Assessment 2

My resident for the day was an 83 year old female; she was cognitively intact and able to communicate with me very well through both verbalization and body language. Her main diagnoses included: a left hip fracture, rectal cancer with chemotherapy, hypertension, and osteoarthritis. The only medication she was taking through the duration of her stay was Percocet. Prior to arriving she was taking Xeloda for cancer, Coumadin and Lisinopril. She told me that she was regularly taking OxyIR for a pain she was experiencing at the base of her head and on her right auricle while she was home. After going through the form with my resident the only pain she experienced that caused any disruption in her life was generally experienced at night. Her left hip that was operated on recently is about a 5 when she lays on it and her right ear is about a 6 until she is given Percocet. Her ear hurts even when there is no pressure exerted on it. During and after physical therapy she experienced some discomfort from her hip and the swelling in her legs. 1 was able to observe her while she moved about and her body language did not express any signs of pain. The med nurse

said that she chooses to take Percocet / 4,-, 2 out of the 4--, <.[ 4 ,>-/,.f, times it is available and that is usually , cf, - - / ,-7' 0! '- r' /,,f! during

the late afternoon and at night.^ L/ Emotionally she seems to be happy and driven. She is very spiritual, strong, has a few close family and friends, and enjoys gardening amongst many other activities. Her attitude has a positive effect on the way she handles any pain. Prior to her arrival she was going through chemotherapy but had to stop because it would decrease the chances of her fracture healing in a

timely manner. This being said, I'm l;; curious if she rates her pain low so she could get back home &'L, " ( 4 -

to begin chemotherapy again.^ / This is her second time diagnosed with rectal cancer, and I can only

imagine that it is a priority for her to go back into remission. I asked if she had mentioned her

auricle hurting to her doctor and she said she rather just not know what the cause for it is. The

Percocet relieves her pain completely, but she only takes it once she feels the pain. If she was to / , L< / LLJ- O L /

take it 4 times daily as suggestect'maybe she would avoid feeling the pain at all and have a non- disruptive sleep cycle.