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Why is it Important to Understand the Complexity of Pain in Providing Relief and Comfort?

Susan Holmes-Walker, PhD, RN

September 2, 2024

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Question

Why is it important to understand the complexity of pain in providing relief and comfort?

Answer

Understanding the complexity of pain is crucial because it informs the selection of appropriate therapies and approaches that provide relief and comfort to individuals in various settings, whether in behavioral health, medical care, or other environments. Pain is not just a physical sensation; it is influenced by a combination of factors, including the body, mind, spirit, and social interactions. These elements can either amplify or dampen pain signals. For instance, engaging in mindfulness practices or deep breathing can help reduce the perception of pain by calming the mind and body. Recognizing this multifaceted nature of pain ensures that healthcare providers can offer more effective and holistic pain management strategies.

 

This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the webinar, Pain Management for Aging Populations in Medical and Behavioral Health Settings, presented by Susan Holmes-Walker, PhD, RN


susan holmes walker

Susan Holmes-Walker, PhD, RN

Susan Holmes-Walker, PhD, RN the owner and founder of the Sulan Group LLC, is a registered nurse licensed in the states of Michigan and Florida. Dr. Holmes-Walker has experience as an adult pain clinical nurse specialist, case manager, and risk specialist.

 

Given the current state of the opioid epidemic, Dr. Holmes-Walker’s mission is to share lessons learned from the research literature and clinical practice during her nursing career to provide continuing education to healthcare professionals. The primary goal of this education is to increase knowledge and understanding of how quality pain assessment leads to improved pain management and can be used as a tool to address the opioid epidemic.


Related Courses

Pain & Symptom Management in Behavioral Health and Medical Settings
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  'The presenter'   Read Reviews
This course will discuss the different types of pain and the symptoms related to each category and include information on the challenges of treating pain in the context of substance use. Participants will learn the importance of managing patients' expectations in pain and learn strategies to create an individualized, multimodal pain management plan.

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This course is intended to improve understanding of the relationship between quality pain assessment and pain management for mental health professionals. A review of the literature and lessons learned from clinical practice will inform the lecture.

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Pain Management Part II: Managing Expectations and Exploring Treatment Options
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  'lots of good information but spoke too fast'   Read Reviews
This course will explore the pieces of the quality pain management puzzle in the context of managing expectations of patients in pain. In addition, pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain treatment options will be discussed.

Medical Errors, Patient Safety, and Root Cause Analysis
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This course has been created to meet the State of Florida compliance requirements for Medical Errors. In addition to including a study of root-cause analysis, error reduction and prevention, and patient safety, this course explores areas within the behavioral health field that carry the potential for “medical” errors. This course will identify the importance of error reduction and prevention for behavioral health professionals, discuss how improving safety and quality influences care provided by licensed healthcare professionals and other high-risk industries, and support participants in recognizing the components of root-cause analysis used to investigate medical errors and patient safety events

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