ToolsCalculators
Nonverbal Pain Scale (NVPS) for nonverbal patients
Behavioural and physiological pain assessment for patients unable to self-report pain.
Nonverbal Pain Scale (NVPS) for nonverbal patients
Face
Activity/movement
Guarding
Physiological I (vital signs: heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate)
Physiological II (skin, pupils, SpO2)
Result0 / 10
No behavioural or physiological evidence of pain.
When to use
- Assessing pain in sedated, intubated, or otherwise nonverbal critically ill patients who cannot self-report.
Formula
Sum of 5 domains (face, activity/movement, guarding, physiological I [vital signs], physiological II [skin/SpO2]), each scored 0-2. Range 0-10.
Pearls and pitfalls
- A behavioural surrogate, not a direct pain measure; treat rising scores as a prompt to reassess analgesia, not a precise pain intensity.