Nonverbal_Pain_Scale_NVPS_for_Nonverbal_Patients_guideline v.1
Quantifies pain in patients unable to speak (due to intubation, dementia, etc).
Nonverbal patients express pain variably, making a standardized, accurate tool helpful in the evaluation of pain. Pain can be a cause of abnormal vital signs in the ICU setting, and using a quantitative tool can help confirm or refute this hypothesis.
Patients in critical care settings for whom pain assessment is ongoing. FORMULA The scores for each of the five NVPS components are summed for a total score of 0-10. Score interpretation: Scores ≤2 indicate no pain. Scores 3-6 indicate moderate pain.* Scores ≥6 indicate severe pain.* *Note: Scores ≥3 indicate possible need for analgesia. This assessment is normally documented every 4 hours on nursing flow sheets and completed before and after interventions. Sepsis, hypovolemia, and hypoxia need to be resolved prior to interventions.
This tool cannot be used in non-communicative adult populations with dementia. This tool cannot be used in communicative adult populations. Sepsis, hypovolemia, and hypoxia need to be resolved prior to interventions.
Odhner, M., Wegman, D., Freeland, N., Steinmetz, A., & Ingersoll, G. L. (2003). Assessing pain control in nonverbal critically ill adults. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, 22(6), 260-267. McGuire, D. B., Kaiser, K. S., Haisfield-Wolfe, M. E., & Iyamu, F. (2016). Pain Assessment in Noncommunicative Adult Palliative Care Patients. The Nursing clinics of North America, 51(3), 397–431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnur.2016.05.009
OBSERVATION.nonverbal_pain_scale_nvps_for_nonverbal_patients.v0, EVALUATION.nonverbal_pain_scale_nvps_for_nonverbal_patients.v0
