👤 By the CinnaRN Clinical Content Team🕐 Updated 2026-08-23🏷️ Basic Care & Comfort🔖 Free to read, print, and share
Self-report is the gold standard. 1–3 mild · 4–6 moderate · 7–10 severe.
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Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Pain Assessment (PQRST) on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!
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📒 The 1-minute cheat sheet
📌 Pqrst
P — what Provokes / relieves it
Q — Quality (sharp, dull, burning)
R — Region & radiation
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S — Severity 0–10
T — Timing / onset
📌 Scales
FLACC (infant), FACES (≥3 yr)
PAINAD (dementia)
Self-report = gold standard
📚 Pain Assessment (PQRST) — full study notes
The cheat sheet above is your quick recall card. These notes go deeper — what it is, what to do first, what must be reported, and what to teach.
Pain is subjective — the patient's self-report is the most reliable indicator. PQRST structures the assessment: Provocation, Quality, Region/radiation, Severity (0–10 scale), and Timing.
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Key points
Understand these first
P — what Provokes / relieves it
Q — Quality (sharp, dull, burning)
R — Region & radiation
S — Severity 0–10
T — Timing / onset
FLACC (infant), FACES (≥3 yr)
PAINAD (dementia)
Self-report = gold standard
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Nursing priorities
What to do, in order
Accept the patient's self-report as the gold standard.
Reassess pain after intervention (e.g., 30–60 min after PO analgesic).
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Red flags — report now
Escalate immediately
Never assume a calm or sleeping patient is pain-free — assess.
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Patient teaching
What patients must know
Believe the patient's rating even when vitals look normal — chronic pain patients often have normal vitals.
Use FLACC for infants, FACES for children ≥3, and PAINAD for advanced dementia.
❓ Pain Assessment (PQRST): NCLEX FAQs
What are the priority nursing interventions for Pain Assessment (PQRST)?
Accept the patient's self-report as the gold standard. Reassess pain after intervention (e.g., 30–60 min after PO analgesic).
What are the warning signs of Pain Assessment (PQRST) a nurse must report?
Never assume a calm or sleeping patient is pain-free — assess.
What do I need to know about Pain Assessment (PQRST) for the NCLEX?
P — what Provokes / relieves it. Q — Quality (sharp, dull, burning). R — Region & radiation. S — Severity 0–10.
What patient teaching is important for Pain Assessment (PQRST)?
Believe the patient's rating even when vitals look normal — chronic pain patients often have normal vitals. Use FLACC for infants, FACES for children ≥3, and PAINAD for advanced dementia.