While caring for a nonverbal patient, which of the following ensures appropriate and timely pain management?

Question

1. Medicate the patient based on the pathologic condition, nonverbal cues, and pain procedures.
2. Have the family medicate the patient, based on their knowledge of the patient's response to pain.
3. Administer non-narcotic analgesics around the clock, adding narcotic analgesia when necessary.
4. Use the McGill pain questionnaire to determine the optimal pain management plan.

Answer 1

Medicate the patient based on the pathologic condition, nonverbal cues, and pain procedures.

Rationale: Use of a behavioral pain assessment in addition to administering analgesics based on what would be considered a painful condition or procedure to others is the standard of practice. The family members most likely do not have knowledge of pharmacology and physiologic parameters to make pain management decisions, and in fact, out of concern, may "over-read" the presence of pain. The appropriate analgesic should be used for the situation; a non-narcotic analgesic may be all that is needed. The McGill questionnaire requires the client's input regarding pain and impact on ADLs and therefore is not an appropriate screening tool.