Pain among the elderly: an action plan

Pain is the most frequently communicated nursing-sensitive patient outcome among the elderly. An effective action plan to decrease pain among the elderly should encompass both medically based interventions and psychosocial techniques. Nurses who are familiar with the latest information about pain and who are cognizant of and comfortable with their own views about pain are likely to bring about a positive patient outcome. Further research will add to the current knowledge base while laying the groundwork for new interventions.