GERATRIC PAIN ASSESSMENT EDUCATION FOR NURSES

ROSE CLARKE, MSN, FNP, DNP-C

BRANDMAN UNIVERSITY

OBJECTIVES

Will be Knowledgeable on signs and symptoms of pain in

the elderly.

Knowledgeable on pain assessment and important

questions to ask about pain.

Will have a clear understanding of pain management

options in the elderly.

PAIN DEFINITION

According to the International Association for The Study

of Pain (IASP), pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory

and emotional occurrence associated with actual or

impending harm (Mackintosh, 2007).

Pain is subjective and the most accurate judge

of the intensity of pain is the patient

experiencing the pain (_________.

MYTHS ABOUT PAIN

Pain is a Normal part of the aging process

No complain means no pain.

Elderly patients cannot tolerate opioids for pain.

Sleeping means no pain.

Do not exercise when pain is present.

FACTS ABOUT PAIN

In long-term care facilities, an estimated 50%-75% of older

adults have chronic pain (Planton & Edlund, 2010).

Description and intensity of pain is individualized.

Pain complains increase with advance age.

NON VERBAL PRESENTATION OF

PAIN

Decreased activity

Sleep disturbance

Change in appetite

Restlessness or irritability

Depression

Change in vital signs

DISASES ASSOCIATED WITH PAIN

Diabetes

Cardiac related issues

Neuropathy

Cancer

Arthritis

Bone and Joint pains ( R/T disease or injuries)

Shingles

WHAT TO ASK ONCE PAIN IS

IDENTIFIED

Where?

What?

How?

PAIN MANAGEMENT APPROACH

Opioids and elderly population

When to offer pain medication?

Reassessment

CONCLUSION

The only reliable source of pain is the patient. The intensity of pain should be not be compare to another but rather the patient’s past experiences (www.us.elsevierhealth.com).

Pain assessment is an interactive and collaborative process that involve the patient and/or family, nurse, physician, and other providers, as appropriate to the clinical setting. Healthcare providers must be aware and respect patients’ reports of pain and approach the issue with appropriate assessment and treatment (www1.va.gov).

Elderly patients should be educated about pain and encourage to report pain symptoms.

Once pain is identified, it needs a thorough medical assessment and ongoing pain management (www.oregon.gov).

Better pain assessment and management would quality of care and the elderly quality of life.

THE ENDThank you!!!

Narration by: Raymond Zakhari, NP

REFERENCES

Aging and People with Disabilities. Retrieved from www.oregon.gov.

Gropelli, Theresa; Janine Sharer,. "Nurses' Perceptions of Pain Management in Older Adults."

MedSurg Nursing. Jannetti Publications, Inc. 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2014 from

HighBeam Research: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-355246640.html

Hanks-Bell, M., Halvey, K. and Paice, J. (2004). Pain Assessment and Management in Aging.

Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 9(3). Retrieved from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle.

Mackintosh C (2007). Assessment and management of patients with post-operative pain. Nursinq

Standard, 22,(5),49-55. Retrieved from www.nurseone.com.

Planton, J., & Edlund, B. (2010). Regulatory components for treating persistent pain in long-term

care. Journal Of Gerontological Nursing, 36(4), 49-56. doi:10.3928/00989134-20100202-02

Pain as the 5th Vital Signs Toolkit. (2000). Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved from

www1.va.gov.

REFERENCES Cont’d.

Planton, J., & Edlund, B. (2010). Regulatory components for treating persistent

pain in long-term care. Journal Of Gerontological Nursing, 36(4), 49-56.

doi:10.3928/00989134-20100202-02

Wilder-Smith, O. (2005). Opioid use in the Elderly. European Journal of Pain (9)

137-140. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.libproxy.chapman.edu

Zwakhalen, S., Hamers, J., Abu-Saad, H. and Berger, M. (2006). Pain in the

Elderly People with Severe Dementia: A systemic Review of Behavioural Pain

Assessment Tools. BMC Geriatrics 6(3). Retrieved from

www.biomedcentral.com.