Formal measurement of pain by nurses

How often have we heard nurses complain because doctors have not prescribed adequate pain relief for patients? Nurses, however, are just as guilty as doctors of not managing patients with acute and chronic pain adequately. Concern that nurses in her district were not using, or were using inappropriately, pain assessment tools prompted the author to undertake a small survey of current practice. The results confirmed her suspicions, but subsequent continuing education programmes on pain management seem to be helping to raise nurses' awareness of their responsibilities in this crucial area of care.