The role of nurses in treating postoperative pain

Abstract

With the development of medical science, postoperative pain is perceived as a crucial medical issue for both the patients and their medical team. The incorrect treatment is the cause of numerous postoperative complications, giving rise to the protraction of the patient’s stay in hospital, prolonging their return to health and contributing to the lowering of their quality of life. Given the extent of their suffering and the numerous undesirable outcomes which occur as a result of the action of pain on the system, postoperative ward staff should take every possible measure aimed at its elimination. It is now possible to fight pain with the application of current knowledge and available treatment methods. The Polish Society for the Study of Pain awards certificates to hospitals in Poland which apply the relevant pain management standards. The awarded hospitals run pain treatment training courses for their staff, carry out measurements of the intensity of their patients’ pain and document the results. A key role in the fight against pain is played by nurses who spend most of the time with the patients. Their work in this area involves recognising when a patient is suffering as a result of pain, evaluating its intensity by means of the scale provided, undertaking actions aimed at its elimination, participating in pharmacotherapy, keeping records and patient education. This article sets out to analyse the role of nurses in the fight against postoperative pain.