title: Changing pain management practice and impacting on patient outcomes.
abstract: Concerns about acute pain management prompted the development of a pain management program. The program, with assessment, intervention, and evaluation components, was introduced by the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team. The assessment phase included a descriptive study of postoperative pain and a baseline audit of nursing documentation related to pain assessment and management. Interventions, including a focused educational program and new routes for postoperative analgesia, were then introduced. Evaluations at 3 months and 2 years indicated improvements in documentation of pain assessments and improved management of pain. Additionally, at each follow-up evaluation, patients reported decreased postoperative pain. The assessment and management of pain is an important domain of nursing practice. The CNS is in a unique position to influence nursing practice and to impact on patient outcomes in this area of pain management.
authors.affiliation: Montreal Neurological Hospital, Quebec.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009731:Nursing Audit; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation