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Pain is often regarded as the fifth vital sign in regard to healthcare because it is accepted now in healthcare that pain, like other vital signs, is an objective sensation rather than subjective. As a result nurses are trained and expected to assess pain.
A Chinese pain scale diagram, rating pain on a scale of 1 to 10. A pain scale measures a patient's pain intensity or other features. Pain scales are a common communication tool in medical contexts, and are used in a variety of medical settings. Pain scales are a necessity to assist with better assessment of pain and patient screening.
For example, the Waterlow score and the Braden scale deals with a patient's risk of developing a Pressure ulcer (decubitus ulcer), the Glasgow Coma Scale measures the conscious state of a person, and various pain scales exist to assess the "fifth vital sign". The use of medical equipment is routinely employed to conduct a nursing assessment.
The "fifth vital sign" may refer to a few different parameters. Pain is considered a standard fifth vital sign in some organizations, such as the U.S. Veterans Affairs. [16] Pain is measured on a 0–10 pain scale based on subjective patient reporting and may be unreliable. [17] Some studies show that recording pain routinely may not change ...
Other referred pains can provide clues to underlying medical causes. Severity The pain score (usually on a scale of 0 to 10). Zero is no pain and ten is the worst possible pain. This can be comparative (such as "... compared to the worst pain you have ever experienced") or imaginative ("... compared to having your arm ripped off by an alien").
Where is the pain? Or the maximal site of the pain. O Onset When did the pain start, and was it sudden or gradual? Include also whether it is progressive or regressive. C Character What is the pain like? An ache? Stabbing? R Radiation: Does the pain radiate anywhere? A Associations Any other signs or symptoms associated with the pain? T Time course
They are also used in diagnosis, to determine a treatment plan, and to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. Pain scales are available for neonates, infants, children, adolescents, adults, seniors, and persons with impaired communication. Pain assessments are often regarded as "the 5th vital sign". [13]
An early warning system (EWS), sometimes called a between-the-flags or track-and-trigger chart, is a clinical tool used in healthcare to anticipate patient deterioration by measuring the cumulative variation in observations, most often being patient vital signs and level of consciousness. [1]