Discuss The Use Of Critical Pain Observation Tool In Nursing

Nurses may use a critical pain observation tool (CPOT) in an intensive care unit to monitor a patient’s pain and analgesia whether in an unconscious state or does not have the capacity (Sessler et al 2008). For example, a patient in the burns unit is unconscious and cannot verbally communicate their pain. Therefore, a nurse may use the CPOT to dictate whether the patient is in pain through facial expression such as grimacing or body jerking (Herr et al 2011). This is significant as the tool allows the appropriate intervention to be implemented to diminish pain such as a doctor prescribing and a nurse administering a painkiller such as oralmorph (Advameg, 2016).