HOW DOES THE NURSE KNOW WHEN THE PATIENT ON A VENTILATOR IS IN PAIN?

What are the special  considerations given to a patient on a ventilator?
When a patient has been placed on ventilator support, it is not possible to communicate with speech. Some patients who are awake and alert may be able to point at a pain scale chart. If this is not possible, pay attention to signs such as: heart rate, blood pressure, respirations, and agitation.

How does the nurse know when the patient on a ventilator is in pain?
The patient on a mechanical ventilator is unable to speak because there is an endotracheal tube in the airway. Signs of pain may manifest by: agitation, pressure alarms on the ventilator going off, rapid heart rate and more.

How is pain assessed?
Pain is assessed by using a scale of 1-10, ten being the worst. Common scale ratings are as follows:
  • 0: No pain
  • 1-3: Mild pain
  • 4-6: Moderate pain
  • 7-10: Severe pain
You should always follow your institution's policy regarding pain scales.

Learn more-----
For more information on this topic, enjoy watching:
/www.youtube.com/user/dearnurses/videos

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

HELPFUL INFORMATION ABOUT AN AORTIC ABDOMINAL ANEURYSM

Image
  Scenario : Mr. S is an elderly male who has a longstanding history of hypertension. He suddenly develops throbbing  pain in the abdomen. He notified his doctor and was admitted to the hospital for tests. A CAT scan would reveal an  Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. Surgical intervention for AAA was done emergently. Following surgery, Mr.S was transferred to the ICU  for a higher level of care. During his stay, his vital  signs, neurological, cardiac and respiratory status   would all be monitored. Please click on the links for more learning: Hemodynamic Monitoring Info for the layperson
Read more

CHEST PAIN ASSESSMENT AND EKG - QUIZ

Image
                       Chest pain assessment Chest pain is a very common complaint . It may occur anywhere and anytime, even at rest. It may be related to stress or actual damage to the heart. A patient having a heart attack , may very readily complain of chest pain. Helpful hints : If the patient in your care is complaining of chest pain,   immediate action should be taken to assess the pain. Chest pain may be sharp, severe and stabbing. It may also feel like pressure in the chest or  Like a pair of hands squeezing the chest.  It is important to do a pain assessment on a scale of 1-10 and document results. It is also of note to ask the patient to describe the character  and duration of the pain. Always remember to document all interventions. Follow your Institution's policies, procedures and MD orders for chest pain. Do you know your heart Simple EKG interpretation: The EKG (Electrocardiogram) is a noninvasive, simple diagnostic test. It is  a reflection of  the electrical condu
Read more

CARDIOGENIC SHOCK - QUIZ QUESTIONS

Image
Myocardial infarction A heart attack is the layman's term for a (MI) myocardial infarction.     It is caused by  a lack of blood supply to the heart muscle. A blood clot  or plaque, may obstruct the flow of blood. This typically occurs in the    patient with CAD (   coronary artery disease) .  Symptoms include:                           chest pain which may radiate to the shoulder and jaw, pressure or                                                                      tightness in the chest, anxiety, nausea, vomiting and shortness of breath.                                                                                                              Cardiogenic shock The left ventricle receives its blood supply from the LAD ( left anterior descending) artery. If the flow of blood to the left ventricle is obstructed by a clot or plaque, part  of the heart muscle may die. This lack of blood flow to the left ventricle causes pump failure. Cardiogenic shock may result from pump fail
Read more