CWCA Pain Management in Wound Care Flashcards

Which pain assessment tool is most appropriate for a non-verbal patient with a wound?

Answer: PAINAD (Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia)

The PAINAD scale is validated for non-verbal or cognitively impaired patients who cannot self-report pain.

Procedural pain during wound dressing changes is best managed by:

Answer: Pre-medicating 30–60 minutes before the dressing change

Pre-medicating 30–60 minutes before a dressing change allows systemic analgesics to reach peak effect during the procedure.

Which topical agent provides local anesthesia and is commonly used to reduce pain during wound debridement?

Answer: Lidocaine gel

Lidocaine gel applied topically before debridement reduces procedural pain by blocking local nerve conduction.

A patient describes wound pain as a constant, deep aching sensation even at rest. This is classified as:

Answer: Background (persistent) pain

Background or persistent pain is chronic pain present at rest, distinct from procedural pain caused by treatment or incident pain triggered by movement.

Neuropathic pain in chronic wounds is best characterized by which symptom?

Answer: Burning, shooting, or electric shock sensations

Neuropathic pain results from nerve damage and is typically described as burning, shooting, tingling, or electric shock-like.

Which of the following dressing characteristics helps minimize pain during removal?

Answer: Silicone-based non-adherent contact layer

Silicone-based non-adherent dressings do not bond to the wound bed, allowing atraumatic removal that significantly reduces pain.