Assessing patient discomfort involves a combination of subjective reports and objective observations. Key methods include:
- Patient Self-Report: Patients can describe their discomfort using pain scales or questionnaires. - Nurse Observations: Nurses should look for non-verbal cues such as facial grimacing, restlessness, or changes in vital signs. - Clinical Tools: Instruments like the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale help quantify discomfort levels.
