Roy (2009) further explained that pain can be a frightening, frustrating, and at times
overwhelming experience, not only for the suffering individual, but also for others involved
in the situation (i.e. nurses and family members). Treating the pain, as verbalised by the
participants of this study, can be done by giving medications, family presence, touch, and
reassurance. Family presence, touch and reassurance are behavioural-cognitive approaches
to pain relief (Roy, 2009). Feeling confident regarding what is effective nursing care for
people experiencing pain helps alleviate the nurses’ own apprehensions.