• What: Postoperative pain management involves an accurate assessment of postoperative
pain, implementation of pain management interventions, and frequent reassessment of
pain. Pain assessment is a comprehensive process that includes obtaining an accurate
self-report of pain by the patient both before and after surgery, if possible, and using
objective pain assessment tools to assess the severity of pain and the effectiveness
of pain management interventions. Depending on the severity of pain, the patient’s
wishes regarding treatment of pain, and the treating clinician’s orders, pain management
interventions may be pharmacologic, nonpharmacologic, or a combination of both