Pain is experienced by many patients in primary and secondary care and its assessment and management is a fundamental aspect of nursing treatment. Community nurses need to possess a strong knowledge base of the various ways of treating pain to inform and advise their patients. This in turn enables nurses to help and empower patients to effectively control their pain with minimal side-effects. This article, the second in a two-part series on pain, provides an update on the management of acute and chronic non-malignant pain (the first part of this article, on the assessment of pain, appeared in Journal of Community Nursing 28[4]: 83–86).
Pain is experienced by many patients in primary and secondary care and the assessment of pain is a fundamental aspect of nursing. Community nurses need to possess a strong knowledge base to inform and advise their patients, this in turn enables them to help and empower their patients to effectively control pain with minimal side-effects. This two-part series on pain provides an update on the assessment and management of acute and chronic non-malignant pain. This first part of the series examines how community nurses can recognise and categorise pain and start to draw up a plan of care for the patient. The second part in this series will deal with the management of pain.
Numerous studies have shown that pain during dressing change is a major issue for patients with both acute and chronic wounds. Despite this evidence, pain is often misunderstood by clinicians and can be poorly managed. Pain can result in patients abandoning dressing regimens and clinicians need to ensure that patients have their pain reduced as much as possible and do not have to face the trauma of repeated painful dressing changes. This article presents some of the causes of pain and outlines some strategies that clinicians can use to prevent or minimise their patients’ pain.
Jacky Edwards, Burns Nurse Consultant, Burn Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester and Lead Nurse, Northern Burn Care Network
Gillian Baker discusses the use of pain management tools in the community when dealing with patients with leg ulcers.
Gillian Baker BA (Hons) Community Health Studies, DN, RN, DipHE is a District Nursing Sister, Wokingham PCT, Berks.
Article accepted for publication February 2002.
Sylvie Hampton discusses the need for enhanced training for district nurses working in the field of wound management
Sylvie Hampton MA, BSc (Hons), DpSN, RGN is a Tissue Viability Consultant, Eastbourne.
Article accepted for publication: November 2003
Dr Patricia Schofield & Catherine Black describe the pain management of a women with bone metastases and outline the need for adequate pain relief and treatment for patients with cancer.
Dr Patricia Schofield RN, PhD, PGDipEd, DipN is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sheffield School of Nursing & Midwifery.
Mrs Catherine Black RN, BA (Hons), MA, Dip Health Services is a Nurse Teacher at the Centre of Nurse Education, Keyll Darree, Nobles Hospital, Strang, Isle of Man. Article accepted for publication: July 2004
Dr Pat Schofield, Margaret Dunham & Catherine Black present a case scenario on managing pain in a community setting.
Dr Pat Schofield PhD, PE Dip Ed, Dip N, RN, Senior Lecturer – University of Sheffield, School of Nursing & Midwifery.
Mrs Margaret Dunham RN, BA (Hons), MSc, Lecturer – University of Sheffield, School of Nursing & Midwifery.
Mrs Catherine Black RGN, BA (Hons), MAEd, DHSM, Nurse Tutor – Centre of Nurse Education, Keyll Darree, Nobles Hospital, Strang, Isle of Man.
Article accepted for publication: July 2005
Dr Patricia Schofield presents a typical scenario faced by staff in care homes on a daily basis.
Dr Patricia Schofield PG Dip ED, PhD, RGN, Dip N, is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sheffield, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Sheffield.
Article accepted for publication: April 2006
