Assignment task:
A common problem in nursing frequently neglected is pain in elderly patients with a cognitive decline. Chronic pain in older adults is more common than expected. These individuals suffer from pain for various reasons and most of the time it is not treated as it should, or it is misdiagnosed. The National Library of Medicine (2018) includes that pain management for these individuals needs a different approach because many times they are unable to report their pain, and they also usually have multiple problems and comorbidities which complicates the situation. Perception of pain for the older population with a decline in cognitive function is many times neglected because nurses are not experienced in caring for such patients. Perception of pain can be affected by a variety of factors for these patients while in the acute setting. Factors such as the environment itself, stress and emotion, and cultural and cognitive function can all affect how pain is perceived and expressed.
Addressing pain through nursing research can improve patient outcomes significantly. A patient who is experiencing pain will also exhibit an elevated heart rate and blood pressure, increased oxygen demand caused by an increased work of breathing, fluid retention nausea and vomiting, and possibly an increased sensibility to pain. By addressing patients' pain all of this can be avoided.
Pain control is important in the management of patients because untreated pain has a detrimental impact on patient's quality of life (Samarkandi, 2018). Nurses must conduct thorough research on how to properly treat pain in older adults with decreased cognitive function to prevent secondary effects and unnecessary complications. Treating pain from the beginning can improve patient outcomes and shorten their hospital stay because fewer complications will follow.