Inadequate pain control, especially in older adults, remains a significant issue when caring for this population. Older adults, many of whom experience multiple acute and chronic conditions, are especially vulnerable to having their pain seriously underassessed and inadequately treated. Nurses have an ethical obligation to appropriately treat patients' pain. To fulfill their ethical obligation to relieve pain in older patients, nurses often need to advocate on their behalf. This article provides an overview of the persistent problem of undertreated pain in older adults and explores how nurses can meet this ethical duty through the application of Beauchamp and Childress' three principles of beneficence.
Bedside reporting improves client safety and trust and facilitates nursing teamwork and accountability; however, many nurses do not consider it best practice when caring for their clients. A literature review was conducted to determine whether bedside report is an essential shift handover process that promotes both client and nursing satisfaction. Implications for nurses in professional development are discussed, and strategies for developing and implementing bedside report using Lewin's theory of planned change are provided.
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