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Keywords

pain, pain scale, medical surgical unit

Disciplines

Nursing

Description

Pain is very subjective, and patients are oftentimes unable to assign a number to their pain due a to lack of understanding of the pain scale. Consequently, patients sometimes get underdosed or overdosed for their pain. On 7 Northeast, we currently ask patients to rate their pain on a scale of 1-10 without any chart or description as to what the numbers stand for in relation to pain. Many patients have verbalized their frustration on how to rate their pain because of their lack of understanding of the pain scale. Implementation of a pain chart in the room will help patients understand the severity of their pain and get medicated appropriately based on their reported score.

A study conducted on an adult inpatient unit concluded a successful implementation of a pain scale. According to Hanson et al., “The goal of using the FPS (Functional Pain Scale) is to change pain management discussions from an intensity reduction to meeting goals of care, aligning expectations, and creating common language among patients and providers,” (2024). Patients do not always know how to rate their pain due to not having knowledge of the pain scale. They often do not get medicated correctly leading to more increased pain, anger, frustration, and a longer hospital stay due to unmanaged pain. The opposite can be said as well as some patients may be getting overmedicated with narcotics, leading to possible addiction

In medical-surgical patients on 7 Northeast, would implementing a pain scale chart improve the accuracy of pain ratings during hospitalization?

Publication Date

5-2025

Comments

Nurses Week at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, May 6-12, 2025.

Use of a Pain Scale Chart in Medical-Surgical Patients

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