Perianesthesia challenges in geriatric pain management.
The perianesthesia nurse is continually challenged to provide safe and effective pain management. This task becomes more difficult when working with an aging population. Success begins with understanding the challenges in controlling surgical pain and in communicating information regarding pain management prior to the surgery. Sharing of information between the patient, nurse, and other members of the health care team is essential. To provide quality pain care for geriatric patients, who are at greater risk for developing potentially life-threatening side effects of commonly used analgesics, the perianesthesia nurse must be knowledgeable about factors that affect pain management in this population. Common factors affecting pain control in the older adult patient include misconceptions regarding use and effects of analgesics, preexisting cognitive impairment, impaired communication, cultural differences between the nurse and the patient, and physiologic changes in aging that affect how drugs are metabolized.
Paynter
Doreen
D
Advanced Pain Management Center, Carroll Hospital Center, Westminster, MD 21157, USA. Dpaynt@aol.com
Mamaril
Myrna E
ME
D000368:Aged; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D013527:Perioperative Nursing / Q000379:methods*