title: Nurses' knowledge of pain assessment, pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions.
abstract: This study compared differences in knowledge of pain assessment and pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic pain management strategies among 232 L.P.N.s and R.N.s from three hospitals. Twenty-three adult medical, surgical, and special care units were represented. The "Knowledge of Pain Management" tool measured knowledge of pain assessment, drug and nondrug strategies, and was based on AHCPR guidelines. Scores ranged from 24% to 92%. There were significant differences in scores across hospitals and between R.N.s and L.P.N.s. The mean score was 72% for L.P.N.s and 75% for R.N.s. There was a significant difference in pharmacologic scores between L.P.N.s versus A.D./A.A.-R.N.s, B.S.N-R.N.s, and M.S.N.-M.S.-R.N.s but not between L.P.N.s and diploma-R.N.s. There were significant differences in overall knowledge scores between L.P.N.s versus B.S.N.-R.N.s but not A.D./A.A.-R.N.s, diploma-R.N.s, and M.S.N./M.S-R.N.s. Finding suggest the need for aggressive nursing education programs offered in academic and clinical settings to assist nurses in effectively managing the universal phenomenon of pain.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern Mississippi, USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Coyne
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reinert
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cater
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dubuisson
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chatham
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000451:nursing; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004521:Educational Measurement; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008008:Licensure, Nursing; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D009743:Nursing, Practical / Q000193:education*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics