Pain (Acute, Chronic) for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)

Pain- (Acute, Chronic)

Definition/Etiology:

• Acute vs. Chronic
• Causes:
  • Injury
  • Trauma
  • Surgery
  • Somatoform

Pathophysiology:

• N/A

Noticing: Assessment & Recognizing Cues:

• Patient’s perception
  • PQRST
  • Numerical scale
  • Faces scale (e.g. Wong-Baker)
  • FLACC scale
• Types
  • Acute
  • Chronic

Interpreting: Analyzing & Planning:

• NSAIDs
• Acetaminophen
• Opioids 
• COX-2 inhibitors
• Antidepressant
• Anti-seizure
• Topicals (i.e lidocaine patch, diclofenac)

Responding: Patient Interventions & Taking Action:

• Alternative/complementary therapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Massage
  • Mind-body therapies
  • Balanced nutrition
  • Exercise, as tolerated
  • Physical therapy

Reflecting: Evaluating Patient Outcomes:

• Patient’s perception
  • Is the pain improving?
  • Side effects
  • Tolerance
  • Addiction
• Long-term pain management
  • Pain medicine clinic
  • Interdisciplinary team (i.e psych, physical therapy, chiro, etc)

Linchpins (Key Points):

• Time will tell
• Perception
• Acute vs. chronic
• Treatment options: pharm vs. non-pharm