At the 300-bed Magnet hospital I work in, I will post "No Self-Report Means No Pain-Intensity Rating" (Pain Control, October 2005) for staff in the ICU and cardiac care unit-all of whom are concerned about pain in patients who are unable to report. I like the list of simple, numbered steps in the article. Although this article reflects nursing practice, nurses don't always perform this assessment in an organized, consistent manner; this article will help us to take a more systematic approach.

Tina Bobo, MSN, RN

Naperville, IL