Ordering Pain Medication While in a Hospital

Pain Medication

     Pain Medication: This is such an important subject that it will be mentioned in several places at the Patient University™ because of some particulars associated with pain medication. The subject warrants specific education and attention, however, in this context, one area specifically will be mentioned.

The Process of Ordering Pain Medication In a Hospital

    In a hospital, pain medication is one area of a lot of misunderstanding and miscommunication. A medication is ordered by a licensed healthcare practitioner, a physician, a nurse practitioner, or a physician’s assistant. Typically, nurses administer or “give” the medication to the patient.

      With pain medication, there are what is called “parameters” or dosing guidelines. For mild pain, “x” medication is ordered. For moderate pain, “x” is ordered, and so on. Sometimes, a pain medication is ordered to be given at a certain time. While most pain medications are ordered on a “prn” basis. This “prn” means as needed.

What This Means To A Patient and Avoiding Confusion When Requesting 

      What this means to a patient is that pain medication, most likely will not be administered unless asked for by the patient. This is the source of a lot of confusion. A pain medication has limitations, meaning the patient can have a prn medicine, but only a certain amount in a certain amount of time. It does not mean it will be given automatically at a specific time. For example, a pain medicine may be ordered “for moderate to severe pain every 6 hours prn as needed”. What this means is that the medication can be given, but no sooner than every 6 hours. It also means the patient will need to call the attending nurse and let them know they are having pain and that they are requesting pain medication. This alone can be challenging for patients.

Important Discussion

      Important discussion. A patient having pain that is not being relieved, will need to speak up. Family and significant others should be encouraged to speak up as well. When the patient sees the physician or any other licensed medical practitioner, be encouraged to discuss this issue with them so they can decide the best pain medication regimen. Note, that when a patient requests pain medication before the nurse is allowed to administer it, most likely the patient will have to call the nurse to request the pain medication when it becomes available. In other words, the nurse will not give it too soon, and will not necessarily “automatically” give it when it becomes available.

Time Frames with Pain Medication

     The patient will probably not get the pain medication requested until the allotted time frame has arrived. Some nurses will anticipate the need for pain medication. They will know when it will be available to give (the correct time frame) and ask the patient about their pain level beforehand so they can time it right. This is generally not the norm. Remember the time frame. If patient can have said pain medication every 6 hours, then know when it can be requested again. 

 Reasons Why It Takes So Long 

     The process of requesting pain medication can take time. The first challenge is to notify the nurse-this can take time. The nurse will need to retrieve the medication-also takes time. If the request for pain medication is too early, must start the process over.

Who Is the Patient Telling?

      One of the most common things that happens in a hospital regarding request for pain medication is the patient will request pain medication from someone other than their nurse. The thing to understand is that if the person the patient is requesting pain medication from is not the attending nurse, there will be a delay. The person the patient tells must find the nurse, then the nurse will need to remember to give the medication, determine if it is time, then retrieve it. Communication in a hospital varies so widely, there is no one foolproof process. However, if one knows that the nurse is the one that needs to administer the pain medication, then it may be helpful to know that is the person to talk to directly. Given the atmosphere within hospitals, this alone can be a huge challenge. It will not hurt to tell a nurses’ aid that pain medicine is requested, however, remember the chain of communication is shorter if one can tell the nurse directly. 

Pain Scale

·      Pain medication based on the pain scale: The person administering  pain medication will ask what  pain level the patient is experiencing  on a scale of 1-10 “What level of pain are you having?”. It is a scale used to determine the severity of pain so that the appropriate medication can be administered. There should always be a follow up with the person who administered the pain medication. They should ask what the pain level number is after taking the pain medication. The goal is to find out if the pain medication lessened the pain. In other words, was it effective. 

A Very Common Pain Scale Used In Hospitals

     The Wong-Baker Pain Scale is a pain scale that is commonly used in hospitals. This website is their official website. Very useful website

  http://www.WongBakerFACES.org