title: Unscheduled readmissions for uncontrolled symptoms. A health care challenge for nurses.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of nursing strategies to improve cancer pain management on hospital readmission for uncontrolled pain. Strategies include implementing a pain resource nurse program (PRN), making pain management a focus in the continuous quality improvement process of the institution and creating a supportive care service. Admissions were compared before and after implementation of the strategies. Results for 1989 to 1990 revealed 5772 total admission with 4.4% (255) admissions for uncontrolled pain; results for 1992 to 1993 revealed 4066 total admissions with 3.0% (121) admissions for uncontrolled pain. Findings indicate that strategies were effective in reducing the number of readmissions for uncontrolled pain.
authors.affiliation: City of Hope National Medical Center, Nursing Research and Education, Duarte, California, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Ferrell
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D017749:Total Quality Management