Do You Have Pain?
Manage Your Pain so Your Hospital Stay Is as Comfortable as Possible
You are the expert about how you are feeling. Be sure to tell your doctor or nurse when you have any kind of pain.
To help describe your pain, be sure to report:
- when the pain began
- where you feel pain
- how the pain feels—sharp, dull, throbbing, burning, tingling
- if the pain is constant, or if it comes and goes
- what, if anything, makes the pain feel better
- what, if anything, makes the pain feel worse
- how much pain, if any, your medicine is taking away
- if your medicine helps with the pain, how many hours of relief you get
Prescribing Pain Medication in the Hospital
Our staff understands that pain relief is important. However, mistakes or misuses of pain medication can cause serious health problems and are a major cause of accidental death. Chronic pain is best managed by a primary care provider or a pain specialist outside the hospital.
We use our best judgment to provide safe and appropriate pain relief, and we follow all legal and ethical guidelines. For your safety, we:
- review your health and prescription history, including whether you receive pain medication from another provider, to determine the best approach to managing your pain
- prescribe pain medication with the lowest risk of addiction or overdose, for no longer than necessary
- will help you find treatment for any pain or medication problems that you may have
Our entire staff is committed to following these guidelines.
This information is provided for educational purposes only. It is not intended to prescribe a particular course of treatment, deter you from seeking treatment or take the place of the clinical judgment of your treating physician. Any questions about this information should be addressed to the nurse manager or charge nurse on your unit.
Use the pain rating scale below to tell your doctor or nurse how your pain is affecting you:
