Chronic pain: dynamics and treatment strategies

Chronic pain, which affects an estimated 80 million Americans, has untold effects on personal productivity, self-esteem, functioning of the family, and cost to the healthcare delivery system. The author describes how the nursing process offers an effective framework from which nurses can provide psychosocial care to clients with chronic pain. Helping clients to assume responsibility for their own well-being, achieve independence in their lives, and practice healthy coping mechanisms are major goals of such psychosocial care.