Dimensions of critical care nursing : DCCN
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Nov 2010
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyComparison of two pain scales for the assessment of pain in the ventilated adult patient.
The assessment of pain experienced by the patient requiring mechanical ventilation can be a challenge for critical care nurses. This study was conducted to assess the reliability and validity of two pain behavior assessment tools. ⋯ The findings suggest that both tools have adequate reliability and validity. Use of a pain behavior tool is one strategy to improve assessment of pain experienced by the mechanically ventilated adult patient who is unable to provide a self-report.