Feature articleChronic Pain in the Elderly: A Continuing Education Program for Certified Nursing Assistants
Section snippets
General Program Objectives
- 1
Understand the importance of pain management.
- 2
Describe the role of the CNA in pain identification.
- 3
Assist other team members in use of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic pain interventions.
Learning Objectives
- 1
Discuss the definition of pain.
- 2
Express awareness of the enormity of the problem of chronic pain in the elderly.
- 3
Explain one example of a personal experience with pain.
- 4
Recognize myths related to the experience of pain in older people.
A. Lecture
Content includes a definition of pain as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience”8 (Box 1. Pain Definition). Pain is whatever a patient says it is. There are no objective biological markers specific to pain. Therefore, the most accurate evidence of pain and
Learning Objectives
- 1
Describe normal aging changes that might impair pain perception and/or pain management.
- 2
Recognize common reactions to acute and chronic pain.
- 3
Discuss the role of the CNA in reporting pain problems to their supervisor.
A. Lecture
The CNA is often the person who is most likely to notice subtle changes in a patient’s behavior because he or she often spends the most time with the patient. Therefore, it is vital to educate CNAs about the importance of empathetic listening, careful assessment, and reporting
Learning Objectives
- 1
Identify which activities aggravate or increase a person’s pain.
- 2
Recognize names of commonly used medications for chronic pain management.
- 3
Monitor for and report common side effects in medication therapies.
- 4
Describe nonmedicinal ways to treat pain, address basic needs, and promote comfort.
A. Lecture
The aide is responsible, as part of the health care team, to promote a reduction in a patient’s pain. Tasks and responsibilities may vary depending on work locations. Nursing assistants should become familiar
Conclusion
Certified nursing assistants are capable of learning to assess and describe pain in their elderly patients. They can be empowered through education to carry out this role with confidence. The program outlined in this article is meant to be a beginning guideline for use in providing education to CNAs in varied clinical settings. For the full program, contact the authors.
PAULA SICILIANO, MSN, GNP-C, is an assistant professor and Co-director of the Nurse Practitioner Specialty Program
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2008, Inflammopharmacology
PAULA SICILIANO, MSN, GNP-C, is an assistant professor and Co-director of the Nurse Practitioner Specialty Program
REBECCA BURRAGE, MSN, GNP-C, is an assistant professor and Coordinator of the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist Program, both at the University of Utah College of Nursing, Salt Lake City, Utah.