title: Nurse administration of Entonox to manage pain in ward settings.
abstract: This article provides information and advice on Entonox for ward-based nurses carrying out routine procedures that may be painful to patients. An overview of Entonox is provided and the reasons that it may be underused in a ward environment are considered. Examples of common ward procedures in which it could provide effective analgesia to patients, such as the removal of wound drains, are given. Contraindications are also explored. It is hoped that ward-based nurses may be more likely to consider using Entonox to minimise the pain experienced by their patients during common, yet painful interventions.
authors.affiliation: Warrington Hospital, North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sealey
mesh_terms: D019162:Anesthetics, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000451:nursing; D004356:Drug Storage; D006801:Humans; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D010100:Oxygen / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing*; D018579:Patient Selection
chemical_list: D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; C001147:Entonox; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D010100:Oxygen