An Electroanalgesia Method: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Nurses` Role

For effective pain management, pain guidelines and studies recommend the use of nonpharmacological methods combined with analgesics. One of these methods is Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS). Even though TENS has been extensively used in postoperative pain control, its’ effects are still controversial. Some studies indicate that TENS is ineffective in severe pain control, whereas, some indicate as it is effective and reduces analgesics use. Nurses have responsibilities in providing most effective analgesia with least side effect. Nurses’ roles and responsibilities in TENS, which is a complementary treatment method, believed to strengthen their autonomy as a profession. Based on our observations, hospitals in Turkey don’t have TENS protocol and nurses don’t administer TENS, whereas nursing regulation states and lists TENS administarion as one of a nursing intervention. As pain management requires teamwork, nurses should take the key role in pain management and use this nonpharmacological pain control method.