Final answer:
The nurse acts as a patient advocate in obtaining additional pain relief, communicating patient needs to the healthcare team and adjusting pain management strategies. They also understand the emotional aspects of care, such as the stages of grief, and are integral in providing hospice care for comfort in life-limiting illnesses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of the nurse in obtaining additional pain relief for the patient is best described as a patient advocate. As patient advocates, nurses ensure that the patient’s needs and preferences are communicated to the rest of the healthcare team, and they actively seek out solutions to improve patient comfort and well-being. This involves assessing the patient’s pain levels, providing initial interventions within their scope of practice, and communicating with other healthcare professionals, like surgeons, anesthesiologists, or pharmacists, to adjust pain management strategies if necessary.
Nurses are trained to look at the overall picture of patient care, which includes understanding and recognizing the five stages of grief that a patient may go through and how these may affect their pain perception and management. Additionally, nurses play a significant role in the administration of hospice care, which is aimed at providing comfort and support to patients and their families when a patient is facing a life-limiting illness.