Nursing diagnosis--alteration in comfort-pain: Validation of the defining characteristics and exploration of the nursing interventions

Abstract

A retrospective validation study was implemented to identify the defining characteristics of the nursing diagnosis Alteration in Comfort-Pain, specifically chest pain. The interventions instituted by coronary care nurses to relieve the chest pain were also explored. Fifty-two records were reviewed. A Demographic Instrument (DI) and Alteration in Comfort-Pain (Chest Pain) Intervention Instrument (ACPII) were developed for the study and the Alteration in Comfort-Pain Assessment Tool for Chest Pain (ACPAT-CP) was revised from the Alteration in Comfort-Pain Assessment Tool (ACPAT) for the study. The three instruments were assessed for content validity and reliability. The critical defining characteristic was determined to be a verbal complaint of chest pain with or without a specific descriptor and nurses made the appropriate nursing diagnosis for chest pain in the majority of the records reviewed. Nursing interventions documented for the relief of chest pain were interdependent interventions, specifically monitoring and an electrocardiogram. The results indicated that there is a need for improved documentation in nurses' notes.