nvps_pain_score: Nonverbal Pain Scale (NVPS) for Nonverbal Patients
In cliot: Clinical Indices and Outcomes Tools

nvps_pain_score

R Documentation

Nonverbal Pain Scale (NVPS) for Nonverbal Patients

Description

Calculates the NVPS score to assess pain in patients who are unable to verbalize their pain (e.g., sedated, intubated, or cognitively impaired patients). The scale evaluates five categories: Face, Activity, Guarding, Physiology (Vital Signs), and Respiratory.

Usage

nvps_pain_score(face, activity, guarding, physiology_vital_signs, respiratory)

Arguments

`face`	Numeric (0-2). 0: No particular expression or smile. 1: Occasional grimace, tearing, frowning, wrinkled forehead. 2: Frequent grimace, tearing, frowning, wrinkled forehead.
`activity`	Numeric (0-2). 0: Lying quietly, normal position. 1: Seeking attention through movement or slow/cautious movement. 2: Restless, excessive activity and/or withdrawal reflexes.
`guarding`	Numeric (0-2). 0: Lying quietly, no positioning of hands over areas of body. 1: Splinting areas of the body, tense. 2: Rigid, stiff.
`physiology_vital_signs`	Numeric (0-2). 0: Baseline vital signs unchanged. 1: Change in SBP > 20 mmHg or HR > 20 bpm. 2: Change in SBP > 30 mmHg or HR > 25 bpm.
`respiratory`	Numeric (0-2). 0: Baseline RR/SpO2/compliance unchanged. 1: RR > 10 above baseline, 5% decrease in SpO2, or mild ventilator dyssynchrony. 2: RR > 20 above baseline, 10% decrease in SpO2, or severe ventilator dyssynchrony.

Value

A list containing:

`NVPS_Score`	The calculated total score (Range 0-10).
`Interpretation`	Clinical interpretation of pain severity (No/Mild, Moderate, Severe).

References

Odhner, M., Wegman, D., Freeland, N., Steinmetz, A., & Ingersoll, G. L. (2003). Assessing pain control in nonverbal critically ill adults. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, 22(6), 260-267.

Examples


# Example 1: Moderate Pain
# Grimacing(1), Restless(2), Rigid(2), Stable Vitals(0), Mild Dyssynchrony(1)
# Score = 6
nvps_pain_score(1, 2, 2, 0, 1)

# Example 2: No Pain
# All baseline/normal
# Score = 0
nvps_pain_score(0, 0, 0, 0, 0)

cliot documentation built on Dec. 1, 2025, 1:06 a.m.