The nurse is working at a pain clinic and is preparing an orientation for new staff nurses. Which of the following definitions of pain would the nurse correctly choose to include in this orientation?
1. Pain is validated by the nurse determining the cause of the pain.
2. Pain is an unpleasant sensation, typically experienced upon movement.
3. Pain is whatever the experiencing person says it is.
4. Pain is very subjective, so observations must be used to assess levels and intensity.
Correct Answer: 3
The most widely accepted definition of pain is the one offered by McCaffery: "whatever the experiencing person says it is, existing whenever he or she says it does" . It involves unpleasant sensations, though not always limited to movement. At times, the cause of the pain is not determined at the time the client reports it. The nurse's role is not to validate the client's report but to assess and assist in alleviating or managing the pain. Pain is a subjective experience and the client's report of pain must be trusted in order to effectively manage it.
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