NURSING AND EDUCATION PLATFORM

An old adage in nursing is "p[ain is what the patients says it is". Many declare there is no need for anybody to be in pain today due to the many therapies and medications available. Yet still some patients remain in pain;

Scenario 1- Mr smith in hospital asks for his prescribed analgesics from the nurse. The nurse refuses to give it--

2 A patient in the community rings the GP for stronger pain relief or ANY pain relief to be told to wait 48hrs for  a prescription--

3 Some people  who are terminally ill in the community, await a reassessment- sadly there are not enough pain control nurses or Macmillan nurses.

4 In care homes- overseas nurses especially, may be unaware of what analgesics are available, what specialists there are  or how to refer to them, and are less reluctant to question Doctors (Duell). There are in addition cultural attitudes to pain (RCN) as of course not all treatments are available in all countries.

Now imagine the person is mentally ill or has dementia. Too may excuses are given NOT to provide pain releif- it is in her mind, she is addicted to the medication, she is not crying out, I have no time,

Meanwhile imagine that you are the person in pain desparately crying out and waiting for medication or comfort.