Current concepts in the assessment and management of acute pain.

The assessment and management of acute pain is a major responsibility for the medical-surgical nurse. Recent data suggest that unrelieved pain can have deleterious consequences for the patient. Therefore, nurses must take an active role in informing patients that pain management is an important part of their care. In addition, nurses must assess and reassess the severity of a patient's pain to determine if the pain management plan is effective or requires modification.