ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the management of pain and begins by considering the World Health Organisation analgesic ladder of pain management. The management of pain is one of the most important and difficult issues in nursing practice. The purpose of drugs in pain control is to keep the patient completely free of pain and this is probably best achieved by applying the World Health Organisation analgesic ladder of pain management. The patient’s experience of chronic pain can vary widely, and in general the weakest possible drugs necessary to control the pain are used. In chronic pain the patient will be receiving analgesic drugs continuously. This can give rise to a number of complications in the management of the patient and his or her pain. In many instances the principles adopted for the treatment of chronic pain also apply to terminal pain.
