Pain: evaluation of the fifth vital sign. A theoretical reflection

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pain is currently a mandatory evaluation criterion for patients’ evaluation because it is a prevailing symptom during disease, as well as because its management is compulsory. This is a theoretical and literary reflection aiming at validating pain as a vital sign, clarifying the painful experience and its coping and how nurses manage patients’ pain. CONTENTS: According to the literature, in spite of advances in health care pain is still a scarcely studied problem and is sometimes underestimated by health professionals during patients’ assistance. This has led to theoretical reflections to develop three categories: Pain as the fifth vital sign, painful experience and coping, pain management and nursing interventions. CONCLUSION: Patients need attention, family support and care in a broad perspective of nursing interventions to develop disease coping strategies, to control pain and to assure their wellbeing.