The nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of guided imagery for pain management as used for a patient who has second- and third-degree burns and needs extensive dressing changes. Which finding best indicates the effectiveness of guided imagery?

Question

a. The patient's facial expressions are stoic during the procedure.
b. The patient rates pain during the dressing change as a 6 on a scale of 0 to 10.
c. The patient's need for analgesic medication decreases during the dressing changes.
d. The patient asks for pain medication during the dressing changes only once throughout the procedure.

Answer 1

ANS: C
If the patient needs less pain medication during dressing changes, then guided imagery is helping to manage the patient's pain. The purpose of guided imagery is to allow the patient to alter the perception of pain. Guided imagery works in conjunction with analgesic medications, potentiating their effects. A rating of 6 on a 0 to 10 scale indicates that the patient is having moderate pain and shows that this patient is not experiencing pain relief at this time. A person who is stoic is not showing feelings, which makes it difficult to know whether or not the patient is experiencing pain. Having to ask for pain medication during the dressing changes indicates the guided imagery is not effective.