Sample interview questions: How do you handle patients who require advanced pain management techniques in the ICU?
Sample answer:
Advanced Pain Management Techniques in the ICU
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Comprehensive Assessment: Conduct a thorough assessment to determine the nature, severity, and origin of the patient’s pain. Evaluate the patient’s vital signs, mental status, and response to previous pain interventions.
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Multimodal Therapy: Utilize a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological techniques to address the patient’s pain. This may include opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, local anesthetics, nerve blocks, physical therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
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Titration of Opioids: Administer opioids judiciously and titrate doses carefully to achieve adequate analgesia while minimizing the risk of side effects. Monitor the patient’s respiratory status, sedation level, and pain scores closely.
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Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA): Consider PCA to allow patients to self-administer small doses of opioids as needed. Provide clear instructions on the use of the PCA and monitor the patient’s response to ensure optimal pain control.
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Neuraxial Analgesia: Utilize neuraxial techniques, such as epidural or intrathecal analgesia, for severe pain. These techniques involve delivering pain medication directly to the spinal cord, providing effective pain relief with minimal systemic side effects.
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Nurse-Managed IV Infusions: Administer continuous intravenous infusions of analgesics, such as propofol… Read full answer
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