Pain is considered to be the "fifth vital sign." How does this principle affect nursing care?
a. It ensures that pain assessment occurs on a regular basis for all patients.
b. It helps nurses understand that experiencing pain can change heart rate and respi-ratory rate.
c. It helps nurses to ensure that vital organ function is adequate before administering drugs to reduce pain.
d. It encourages nurses to assess two parameters during patient contact to improve time management.
A
Pain is common in patients and undertreated pain remains a major yet avoidable health problem. More frequent and more accurate assessment can improve pain management. Making pain as-sessment the "fifth vital sign" assists nurses to both recognize the presence of pain and see how the patient responds to drugs and other interventions. These actions increase the likelihood of appropriate pain management.
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