title: Pain as a quality management initiative.
abstract: A 320-bed surgical nursing department's pain management quality improvement initiative is presented. Clinical indicators were designed through literature review and consultation with pain management experts. Results for pain assessment compliance, patient perception of relief, and the perceived impact of pain on activity--analyzed by nursing care unit, physician service, and pain medication type--are detailed, as are selected strategies to improve pain management outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Nursing Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dietrick-Gallagher
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Polomano
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carrick
mesh_terms: D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009738:Nursing Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013527:Perioperative Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D015143:Philadelphia; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000592:standards*; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*