This may be of help: http://micunursing.com/pain.htm

P = Provokes
  • What causes pain?
  • What makes it better?
  • Worse?
Q = Quality
  • What does it feel like?
  • Is it sharp?
  • Dull?
  • Stabbing?
  • Burning?
  • Crushing? ( Try to let patient describe the pain, sometimes they say what they think you would like to hear. )
R = Radiates
  • Where does the pain radiate?
  • Is it in one place?
  • Does it go anywhere else?
  • Did it start elsewhere and now localised to one spot?
S = Severity
  • How severe is the pain on a scale of 1 - 10?
( This is a difficult one as the rating will differ from patient to patient. )
T = Time
  • Time pain started?
  • How long did it last?
Other questions to ask and look for....
  • Any medication or allergies?
  • Does it hurt on deep inspiration?
  • Activity @ onset?
  • Any history of pain?
  • Is it the same?
  • Different?
  • Any family history of heart disease lung problems, stroke or hypertension?
  • Check LOC.
  • Pupils?
  • JVD?
  • Midline trachea?
  • Any recent trauma?