Registered Nurses´ Association of Ontario
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Guiding Principles of Pain Assessment and Management
The RNAO guideline development panel has identified and reached consensus on the following principles that guide the nurse in pain assessment and management:
- Patients have the right to the best pain relief possible.
- Unrelieved acute pain has consequences and nurses should prevent pain where possible.
- Unrelieved pain requires a critical analysis of pain-related factors and interventions.
- Pain is a subjective, multidimensional and highly variable experience for everyone regardless of age or special needs.
- Nurses are legally and ethically obligated to advocate for change in the treatment plan where pain relief is inadequate.
- Collaboration with patients and families is required in making pain management decisions.
- Effective pain assessment and management is multidimensional in scope and requires coordinated interdisciplinary intervention.
- Clinical competency in pain assessment and management demands ongoing education.
- Effective use of opioid analgesics should facilitate routine activities such as ambulation, physical therapy, and activities of daily living.
- Nurses are obligated to participate in formal evaluation of the processes and outcomes of pain management at the organizational level.
- Nurses have a responsibility to negotiate along with other health professionals for organizational change to facilitate improved pain management practices.
- Nurses advocate for policy change and resource allocation that will support effective pain management.
