During your hospital stay, you may experience pain. This pain may result from surgery or an invasive procedure, or you may already be experiencing pain because of your illness or condition. Regardless of the source of your discomfort, effective pain relief is an important part of your treatment. It is very important that you report your pain so the staff can respond appropriately to meet your needs.

Your nurse will teach you how to report your pain using numbers on a pain scale. The nursing staff will assess your pain frequently. Always keep your healthcare provider informed by reporting any new pain or changes in your pain.

Managing your pain is an important step in your recovery. You should expect the following rights for your pain care:

• The right to have reports of your pain accepted and acted on by healthcare professionals.
• The right to have your pain controlled, no matter its cause or how severe it may be.
• The right to be treated with respect at all times. when the need for pain medication arises, your request will be honored in a professional manner.