Nursing Approaches to Nonpharmacological Pain Control

A combination of pharmacological and nonpharmacological methods of pain control probably yield the most effective pain relief for the patient. The nurse may make a significant contribution to pain control by being able to offer a variety of nonpharmacological methods of pain relief that the patient may use in combination with the more traditional methods of analgesia or local anesthesia. Recent research supports some of the older methods of nonpharmacological pain control such as distraction, especially humor; relaxation using the patient's own memory of peaceful events; and cutaneous stimulation, especially use of cold. Cutaneous stimulation may even be effectively used at sites other than the site of pain. Specific examples of these techniques are presented.