Pain Management Part 3: The Thorough Pain Assessment
Presented by Cathleen Armato
Nonfinancial: Cathleen Armato has no competing nonfinancial interests or relationships with regard to the content presented in this course.
Many clinicians rely on a one-dimensional pain assessment. While there may be times where this is appropriate, more frequently this type of assessment can lead to improper pain treatments and lack of pain relief for the patient.
This course examines the rationale and provides evidence-based tools for a complete thorough pain assessment. Using this information, clinicians can increase their professionalism and clinical proficiency, and work toward better outcomes for their patients.
This course is appropriate for any healthcare provider or interdisciplinary team member dealing with patients in pain.
Meet your instructor
Cathleen Armato
Cathleen Armato is an experienced executive with 22 years in the home care and hospice industry. She has served in various roles during that time, including VP of operations and chief compliance officer for a nationwide healthcare provider. In 2012, Cat became a consultant. Since that time, she has assisted multiple…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. A Number Is Not Enough
This chapter reviews the patient’s unique experience of pain and how an understanding of this experience supports better outcomes. We will review evidence-based unidimensional and multidimensional tools for pain assessment to assist the clinician in selecting the right tool for the situation.
2. Elements of a Complete Pain Assessment
Using an example of an evidence-based tool, this chapter will review eight important assessment elements. We will also review the physical portion of the pain assessment and discuss appropriate patient-centered care plan goals.
3. Tools for Assessing Patients Unable to Communicate Their Pain Effectively
This chapter examines pain assessments for individuals who are impaired or otherwise unable to communicate their pain effectively. Again, evidence-based tools will be reviewed for these situations.
More courses in this series
Pain Management Part 1: Foundational Information
Cathleen Armato
Pain Management Part 2: Pain Types and Etiology
Cathleen Armato
Pain Management Part 3: The Thorough Pain Assessment
Cathleen Armato
Pain Management Part 4: Adjuvants and Nonpharmacologic Interventions
Cathleen Armato
Pain Management Part 5: Opioids for Pain Management
Cathleen Armato
Pain Management Part 6: Management of Opioid Side Effects
Cathleen Armato
Patient Notification of Hospice Non-Covered Items, Services, and Drugs
Cathleen Armato
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