Post-operative pain management strategies: Nursing perspectives

A key objective of post-operative pain management is to have the patient comfortable when he or she arouses from anesthesia, with a comfortable transition from post anaesthesia care to the surgical ward and discharge from Hospital. Enhanced recovery protocols to decrease post-operative complications following major surgeries are becoming more customary which also includes multimodal pain intervention protocols as a critical element as pain relief has important physiological benefits. Inadequately managed postoperative pain may predispose to complications and extended rehabilitation. Suitable pain relief during post-operative period leads to reduced hospital stays, and better patient satisfaction. As a result, the management of postoperative pain is an increasingly monitored as quality measure in health care. As being the primary care contact, nurse plays a significant role in Proper pain assessment and management of the patients.