Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)
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The main goals in treating acute pain in opioid-tolerant patients are effective pain relief and prevention of withdrawal symptoms. This article provides an overview of the issues that practitioners need to consider when caring for potential and actual opioid-tolerant patients experiencing acute pain, for example following surgery or injury. It highlights the importance of a multimodal analgesic approach to pain control and the prevention of withdrawal. It defines the terminology used in managing opioid-tolerant patients in order to allay healthcare professionals' misconceptions.
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The UK population is ageing and a significant proportion of older people experience persistent pain. However, pain assessment in this group can be challenging, particularly when the older person has cognitive or communication impairment. ⋯ This article examines the age-related physiological changes that complicate the prescribing and administering of analgesic drugs in older patients and necessitate careful patient monitoring. It outlines the principles of medication administration for pain management in older people and provides examples of assessment tools that can be used in older patients.
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It is 12 months since the first NHS organisations signed up to the 10:10 pledge, promising to reduce their carbon emissions by 10 per cent in the course of 2010. Some have found that there are financial benefits.