Pain management in critically ill patients: Nursing roles

Abstract

Pain and suffering is most commonly experienced in critically ill patients during a stay in hospital. The onset of pain is a result of several causes, both from the procedure and the treatment. When a person has pain, the body changes in response to the pain and suffering resulting in decreased muscle contraction, fatigue, mobility, increase oxygen demand and stress. However, pain assessment in acute patients is complex and delicately. Critical care nurses should be aware of the severity of pain and monitor the pain record. Pain management is vital to improve the quality of nursing and to increase the patients outcome.