Socrates (pain assessment)
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SOCRATES is a mnemonic acronym used by emergency medical services, doctors, nurses and other health professionals to evaluate the nature of pain that a patient is experiencing.
[edit] Meaning of the acronym
The acronym is used to gain an insight into the patient's condition, and to allow the Health Care Provider to develop a plan for dealing with it.[1][2]
- Site - Where is the pain?
- Onset - When did the pain start, and was it sudden or gradual?
- Character - What is the pain like? An ache? Stabbing?
- Radiation - Does the pain radiate anywhere? (See also Radiation.)
- Associations - Any other signs or symptoms associated with the pain?
- Time course - Does the pain follow any pattern?
- Exacerbating/Relieving factors - Does anything change the pain?
- Severity - How bad is the pain?
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Clayton, Holly A. (2000). "SOCRATES on Pain Assessment". MedSurg Nursing. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FSS/is_6_9/ai_n18610925/pg_3. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
- ^ "SOCRATES Acronym". http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/Socrates. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
