Pain Assessment – Why It’s So Important

There are several barriers to pain assessment. Some of the barriers imposed by the nurse are a failure to recognize the importance of a full pain assessment, either by a lack of knowledge, or by a perceived lack of time.

It can also be by the inability to establish rapport or empathize with the patient, or it can be that there’s a personal preference or bias there.

Also, the health care system could fail to realize the importance of a full pain assessment and lack policies that enforce it, and also criteria, or availability of the pain assessment.

Some of the barriers imposed by the patient are an unwillingness to communicate with the nurse, fear that the patient will be seen as a bother, or as a drug seeker.

Also, the patient may feel fatalistic and lack understanding of the treatment methods. There are also cultural, religious, and age-related barriers that play into it.