Pain: The 5th Vital Sign- Dec 1, 2003
M. Ron Eslinger, CRNA, MA, BCH, CI

In 2000 the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) put into place a new standard for managing pain that opened the door to complementary therapies. This standard became know as "The 5th Vital Sign."

Vital Signs are taken seriously; therefore, if pain is assessed with the same zeal as other vital signs, it has a much better chance of being treated properly. So by training doctors and nurses to measure pain as a vital sign quality of patient care improves. Vital Signs are taken seriously; therefore, if pain is assessed with the same zeal as other vital signs, it has a much better chance of being treated properly. So by training doctors and nurses to measure pain as a vital sign quality of patient care improves.

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