The role of nurses in pain and palliative care.

Questions from patients about pain conditions and analgesic pharmacotherapy and responses from authors are presented to help educate patients and make them more effective self-advocates. Nurses play a critical role in the care of people living with pain throughout the life span-from birth to death. They provide important services that strongly influence the quality and effectiveness of a pain care plan. The role of the professional nurse and his/her responsibilities in pain and palliative care are discussed throughout these questions and answers.