Sjuksköterskans bedömning av smärta postoperativt

by Carlén, Helena; Rånge, Sara

In spite of all the research done in the field of postoperative pain, the fact remains that a number of patients still experience unrelieved pain postoperatively. The aim of this study was to describe and analyse current research in the areas that affect nurses pain assessment in the care of postoperative patients. The study has been accomplished as a literature study with a qualitative approach. From the result four categories emerged that distinctly describe the areas that affect nurses pain assessment: (1) patients way of showing pain, (2) what the patient says, (3) assessment based on experience and (4) prevailing norms. In pain assessment the nurse often uses several of these categories. Using earlier experiences, the nurse observes the general appearance of the patient combined with vital signs. The result shows that when the nurse listens to the patient, her pain assessment is most consistent with the patients own assessment. The result also reveals that social patterns existing in the working unit has a big influence on nurses pain assessment.