NUR 3130: Comfort, Pain Assessment, and Vital Signs Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering pain concepts, pain scales across age groups, non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions, and vital signs assessment parameters from Foundations of Professional Nursing (NUR 3130).

Gate Control Theory of Pain

A theory describing the transmission of painful stimuli that recognizes a relationship between pain and emotions, where small and large diameter nerve fibers conduct and inhibit pain stimuli toward the brain via a gating mechanism.

Acute Pain

Pain that is rapid in onset, varies in intensity and duration, and is protective in nature.

Chronic Pain

Pain that may be limited, intermittent, or persistent, lasts beyond the normal healing period, and features periods of remission and exacerbation.

Pain Types by Etiology

Etiological classifications of pain, which include Nociceptive, Neuropathic, Nociplastic, Intractable, and Phantom pain.

PQRST Pain Assessment Mnemonic

A mnemonic used to guide pain assessment where P stands for Provocative/Palliative, Q for Quality, R for Region/Radiation, S for Severity, and T for Timing.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

A noninvasive non-pharmacological comfort measure requiring a provider's prescription that uses electrode pads attached to a small battery unit on the painful area to block pain signals.

Numeric Sedation Scale

A 4-level opioid monitoring scale: $1$ is awake and alert; $2$ is occasionally drowsy but easy to arouse; $3$ is frequently drowsy requiring dosage reduction; and $4$ is somnolent requiring opioid discontinuation and consideration of naloxone.

CRIES Pain Scale

A pain assessment tool used for neonates that measures Crying, Requires $\text{O}_2$, Increased vital signs, Expression, and Sleeplessness.

Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS)

A pain assessment scale designed for infants under $1$ year of age evaluating Facial Expression, Cry, Breathing pattern, Arms, Legs, and State of arousal.

FLACC Scale

A behavioral pain assessment scale used for toddlers over $1$ year of age that scores Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability.

Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale

A pediatric pain assessment tool used for preschool and school-age children that features face illustrations rating pain levels from $0$ (No Hurt) up to $10$ (Hurts Worst).

Normal Healthy Adult Vital Signs

Standard adult baseline parameters: Oral temperature of $96.4\text{--}99.5\text{ }^\text{o}\text{F}$ ($35.8\text{--}37.5\text{ }^\text{o}\text{C}$), pulse rate of $60\text{--}100\text{ bpm}$, respirations of $12\text{--}20\text{ breaths per minute}$, and blood pressure $<120/80\text{ mmHg}$.

Pulse Amplitude Scale

A scale rating peripheral pulse strength: $0$ is Absent/unable to palpate, $+1$ is Diminished/weaker than expected, $+2$ is Normal/brisk/expected, and $+3$ is Bounding.

Apical Pulse Assessment Site

Measured at the 5th intercostal space at the mid-clavicular line, indicated for irregular or non-palpable peripheral pulses, prior to administering heart rate-altering medications, and for children up to $2\text{--}3$ years old.

Oxygen Saturation (SpO2)

A noninvasive estimation of peripheral arterial blood oxygen recorded via a pulse oximeter, where normal range is $95\text{--}100\%$ and a value $<70\%$ is life-threatening.

Pulse Pressure

The numerical difference between the systolic blood pressure and the diastolic blood pressure.

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)

The average pressure present throughout one full cardiac cycle.

Post-Operative Acetaminophen Threshold

A PRN medication threshold specifying acetaminophen administration every $4$ hours for a body temperature above $38\text{ }^\text{o}\text{C}$ ($101\text{ }^\text{o}\text{F}$).