Welcome

Overview

Pain Management
Definitions of Pain
Common Barriers
Important Terms
Morphine Myths
Duty to Relieve Pain
Five Principles
Fifth Vital Sign
Pain Assessment
Begin with the patient
Tools
Types of pain

Symptom Management
The Duty to Relieve Pain

Evidence has shown that it is unrelieved pain that actually may hasten death.

Unrelieved pain:

Causes immunosuppression which can lead to opportunistic infections

Impairs mobility

Increases the work of breathing

Inflicts psychological and spiritual distress on the patient.