A pain management nurse helps patients manage pain levels, administering medication and monitoring for side effects. They may work in hospitals, clinics, or provide outpatient care, and require advanced nursing training and a nursing license.
A pain management nurse provides assistance to individuals with different levels of pain. The nurse may be assigned to work with individuals admitted to a hospital or may provide patient care on an outpatient basis. To become a pain management nurse, a person will need to apply and graduate from an accredited nursing program. In order to practice nursing, he or she will also need to obtain a nursing license. Different regions have different requirements to acquire this position.
The tasks of a pain management nurse can be numerous. In a hospital setting, the nurse often spends her days assessing pain and treating pain in patients. To assess pain, the nurse may have a list of standard questions to ask the patient. Many medical facilities use a numbered scale to measure the level of pain. The nurse may also perform a physical exam to test the patient’s sensitivity.
Nurses also administer pain relievers to treat the pain. Although doctors usually prescribe medications, it is usually the nurse who administers them. As a pain management nurse, he or she will receive advanced training in pharmacology. For this reason, the nurse will be well versed in many types of medications. Most nurses will also need to have a lot of knowledge of the patient’s medical records. This usually includes a history of medications previously taken, medications currently being taken, and any allergic reactions caused by any of the above.
Once the drug is administered, a pain management nurse will be responsible for pain monitoring. Usually, the nurse checks in at different intervals to look for any allergic reactions and takes his vital signs to see if the medication has caused a change in the patient’s blood pressure, heart rate, or oxygen level. The nurse may also continue to question the patient to see if the medication has helped to relieve the pain. If the pain continues even after being medicated, this type of nurse is trained to provide additional pain relief measures. This may include increasing your medication dose or trying an alternative medication, with your doctor’s approval.
In an outpatient setting, a pain management nurse will provide patient education to instruct the patient on proper ways to safely use medications at home. Outpatient care by this type of nurse can be provided to patients who have just had surgery or individuals with ongoing chronic illnesses. In addition to instructing the patient about the medicine and the correct way to take it, the nurse can also address the effectiveness of the medicine. A pain reliever nurse may work in a hospital, nursing home, outpatient clinic, or as a self-employed individual.
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