PAIN IN THE ASSESSMENT-Deciphering patients' self-reported pain

摘要

"On a pain scale of 1 to 10, with 10 signifying the most intoler- able pain you can imagine, how would you" "It's a 35!" The patient curtly interjects. "A 35?" You echo back, perplexed, but not all that surprised. "Well, yeah! It hurts, yo!" The patient winces back satirically. "Did you know that out of 35 industrialized nations, the U.S. is rated 25thglobally when it comes to math skills," you nonchalantly pose to your patient as you apply the IV tourniquet and avoid eye contact with your partner, lest a smirk work its way through the veneer.