Pain scales and pain assessment tools for wound care

Pain assessment scales:

Several different pain scales can be used as tools to estimate and assess a patient’s perceived pain. The three most common one-dimensional methods are the numerical scale (NRS), the verbal descriptor scale (VDS/VRS), and the visual analog scale (VAS). These pain scales can provide you with a clear understanding of the patient’s perceived pain level and the ability to adapt treatment accordingly. All of these scales can be relevant, and the choice of scale is tailored to the patient’s needs. However, assessing more complex pain conditions requires more sophisticated measurement instruments that assess pain across multiple dimensions: physical, psychological, social, emotional, and existential.

Numerical scale (NRS)

The numerical scale is a commonly used pain assessment method. It involves asking the patient to indicate their perceived pain on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 represents no pain and 10 represents the worst possible pain. The patient selects the number that best describes their pain level.

Visual analogue scale (VAS)

With the visual analog scale, the patient marks a point on a line to indicate the perceived pain intensity. The line ranges from “no pain” to “worst imaginable pain.” By measuring the distance from the starting point to the marker, a visual representation of the pain is obtained, allowing you as a nurse to assess and document the pain intensity.

Verbal rating scale (VDS/VRS)

The verbal descriptor scale or verbal rating scale is another commonly used pain assessment method. This scale prompts the patient to use words to describe the pain intensity. The scale can range from a simple scale with few points (no pain, mild pain, moderate pain, severe pain) to a more detailed scale with more word choices to describe different degrees of pain. The patient selects the word that best describes their pain level. By using a verbal descriptor scale, you get a relatively nuanced understanding of the pain, helping you to understand the patient’s experience in more depth. Verbal descriptor scales can be useful when patients have difficulty using numerical scales.