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Objective Nociceptive Assessment in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Feasibility Study Using Pupillometry and the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex
Published on: July 4, 2018
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Better pain management for elders in the intensive care unit
1Binta Diallo, BSN, RN, CRRN, CN III, is a clinical nurse III in the neurosurgery ICU at the University of North Carolina Hospital, Chapel Hill. Donald D. Kautz, PhD, RN, is associate professor of nursing at the University of North Carolina Greensboro.
Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing : DCCN
|October 4, 2014
Summary
Older adults in intensive care units (ICUs) frequently experience underdiagnosed pain. This article offers strategies for nurses to effectively assess and manage pain in elderly ICU patients, improving their care and recovery.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Critical Care Nursing
- Pain Management
Background:
- By 2040, 70 million Americans will be over 65.
- Half of older adults experience daily pain, often underdiagnosed and undertreated.
- Nurses must advocate for vulnerable older adults in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review challenges in managing pain in ICU patients.
- To suggest innovative methods for pain assessment in older adults.
- To discuss strategies for effective pain management in elderly ICU patients.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on pain management in ICU settings.
- Exploration of creative pain assessment techniques for non-verbal or cognitively impaired patients.
- Discussion of patient-centered approaches to pain management.
Main Results:
- Pain in ICU patients is often difficult to assess and manage.
- Creative assessment tools are crucial for identifying pain in older adults.
- Effective pain management can improve ICU stay duration and facilitate discharge.
Conclusions:
- Nurses play a vital role in advocating for and managing pain in elderly ICU patients.
- Addressing pain effectively is essential for optimal patient outcomes and recovery.
- Further research and innovative strategies are needed for comprehensive pain care in this population.
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