Nurse's role in evaluating early treatment of acute pain during triage in ER

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to define the nurse's role in the evaluation and early treatment of acute pain during triage. The assumption is that the treatment of acute pain in A&E by the triage nurse, in certain well selected cases, improves the level of care provided. The study's subject population is represented by all the users accessing A&E between 13th June 2005 and 13th July 2005, and presenting acute pain. The isolated sample is represented by users whose pain can be attributed to the following clinical conditions: musculoskeletal pain, contusions and sprains, fractures, headaches, earache, toothache and renal or biliary colic. The investigation was performed with the use of a grid by the triage nurse and the VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) to measure the intensity of the pain, whereas a dedicated protocol was followed for drug administration. In the period considered, the overall number of users (population) reporting to A& E was 2443. Of these 439 users (sample) (19%) complained of acute pain attributable to the above clinical conditions. The role of the triage nurse in pain management is undoubtedly important in the phase of evaluation using dedicated scales. The nurse's role in drug administration remains to be defined, given that this research demonstrated how even in the presence of medium-high or high VAS levels, the acceptance of pharmacological treatment at triage is somewhat limited. This aspect will provide an interesting basis for future research aimed at understanding to what extent cultural or individual elements are responsible for this attitude.