Nurse administration of Entonox to manage pain in ward settings

This article provides information and advice on Entonox for ward-based nurses carrying out routine procedures that may be painful to patients. An overview of Entonox is provided and the reasons that it may be underused in a ward environment are considered. Examples of common ward procedures in which it could provide effective analgesia to patients, such as the removal of wound drains, are given. Contraindications are also explored. It is hoped that ward-based nurses may be more likely to consider using Entonox to minimise the pain experienced by their patients during common, yet painful interventions.