Volume 10, Issue 4: Understanding pain in palliative care

Understanding pain in palliative care – appreciating the whole picture

It is midway through the night shift when the handset goes off – a 23-year-old male who is complaining of pain. On arrival you find out that the patient is receiving palliative care but is experiencing difficulty in managing his pain. What can you do to help?

CPD Benefit

The aim of palliative care is to address a range of physical and psychological factors relating to the needs of the individual and their family. Paramedics are often called when there is a medical emergency or when the situation is unclear for the patient or their family which can be challenging for attending clinicians. This article discusses the concept of total pain and shows how employing a multidisciplinary and holistic approach is vital. Utilising a range of interpersonal skills will enable you to deliver optimum care, along with providing emotional support to both the patient and their family.

Assessment Answers

You can check your answers to the quiz by clicking the link below:

Standby CPD Volume 10 – Assessment Answers