These are standard IM doses for acute pain in adults and also may be used to convert doses for IV infusions and repeated small IV boluses. For single IV boluses, use half the IM dose. Some experts argue that 60 mg of oral morphine is the more accurate equivalent dose, and suggest caution in converting patients from high doses of oral morphine to other drugs if the 30 mg equivalent is used. Click here for references on equianalgesic conversions. Nurses routinely assess pain.
Doctors routinely assess pain.
Rationale The ideal answer would be consistently. Most institutions have not made pain assessment a priority. However, research has shown that the most common reason for unrelieved pain in U.S. hospitals is that clinicians do not routinely assess pain. Click here for references on making pain the Fifth Vital Sign. Click here for information on how to obtain resources cited in the discussion of answers to the quiz questions.