Nursing care plan for acute pain related to cesarean section

Introduction

Mainly due to during the process of Cesarean Section, the mother may experience acute pain from the incision, the need for nursing care plan is crucial in order to ensure her health and wellbeing. This article will explore the assessment, nursing diagnosis, outcomes, interventions, rationales and evaluation of acute pain related to cesarean section.

Assessment

Pain is an emotional and physiological experience which can be assessed in a variety of forms including verbal, nonverbal, facial or physical expressions, or a combination of all. Pain in the postpartum mother who underwent a cesarean section requires careful and diligent assessment and evaluation.

Nursing Diagnosis

Nurses are in engaged in interventions to manage post-operative acute pain in the postpartum mother. A nursing diagnosis of acute pain related to cesarean section may be established when the mother reports pain and discomfort with deep coughing, movement, abdominal palpation, and during activities of daily living such as dressing and bathing.

Outcomes

The goals of a nursing care plan for acute pain related to cesarean section include:

• Reducing pain intensity
• Maximizing functional independence
• Promoting comfort by utilizing appropriate analgesics
• Continuously reassessing the effectiveness of interventions

Interventions

Interventions that can be utilized to meet the goals of the nursing care plan include:

1. Assessing the mother’s level of pain to determine the type, intensity and location of pain.
2. Administering prescribed analgesia according to the mother’s comfort level.
3. Encouraging the mother to move around in bed and walk with assistance as soon as possible to decrease the risk of pulmonary complications.
4. Providing appropriate positioning and splinting to promote comfort.
5. Teaching the mother relaxation techniques, such as breathing and imagery.

Rationales

It is important for nurses to understand the rationale for implementing the nursing interventions. Rationale for each intervention includes:

• Assessment: identifying the level of pain allows the nurse to determine the best intervention for managing the pain.
• Administering Analgesia: medications reduce pain intensity, allowing the mother to achieve more comfort and perform activities of daily living more easily.
• Encouraging Mobility: moving around in bed and walking reduces the risks associated with immobility such as venous thromboembolism and pulmonary complications.
• Positioning & Splinting: providing appropriate positioning and splinting allows the mother to maintain posture and support body parts which are most susceptible to pain.
• Teaching Relaxation Techniques: relaxation techniques can reduce anxiety and increase the mother’s ability to cope with pain.

Evaluation

The following criteria should be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Nursing Care Plan:

• Level of pain intensity recorded in the medical record.
• Ability of the mother to perform activities of daily living independently.
• Patient’s ability to use relaxation techniques for pain management.

Conclusion

Nursing care plan for acute pain related to cesarean section is a crucial part of ensuring the mother's health and wellbeing. Pain can be assessed in a variety of forms, and nursed can use interventions such as administering analgesia, encouraging mobility, providing positioning and splinting, and teaching relaxation techniques to ensure the mother is comfortable and safe. Evaluation of effectiveness of the nursing care plan should be based on the level of pain intensity, activities of daily living, and the mother's ability to utilize relaxation techniques.

FAQs

• What is a nursing care plan?
  A nursing care plan is a plan developed by a nurse which outlines the patient's problems, the nursing interventions which are appropriate to address the identified problems, and the expected outcomes of the intervention.
• What are the goals of a nursing care plan for acute pain related to cesarean section?
  The goals of a nursing care plan for acute pain related to cesarean section include reducing pain intensity, maximizing functional independence, promoting comfort by utilizing appropriate analgesics, continuously reassessing the effectiveness of interventions, and encouraging the mother to move around in bed and walk with assistance as soon as possible to decrease the risk of pulmonary complications.
• What are the interventions used for nursing care plan for cesarean section?
  Interventions that can be utilized to meet the goals of the nursing care plan include assessing the mother’s level of pain, administering prescribed analgesia, providing appropriate positioning and splinting, and teaching the mother relaxation techniques.
• What criteria should be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Nursing Care Plan?
  The following criteria should be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Nursing Care Plan: level of pain intensity recorded in the medical record, ability of the mother to perform activities of daily living independently, and patient’s ability to use relaxation techniques for pain management.
• Why is understanding the rationale for nursing interventions important?
  It is important for nurses to understand the rationale for implementing the nursing interventions so they can make more informed decisions and feel confident in their practice. Understanding the rationale can also help educate the patient on the purpose of the interventions being used.