Advanced practice nurse-directed telephone management of acute pain following pediatric spinal fusion surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Children undergoing spinal fusion surgery require sophisticated pain management. This study describes an integrated system of pain management primarily directed by an advanced practice nurse (APN), encompassing both the inpatient and outpatient settings.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review was conducted. Pain management and patient education began in the hospital. The APN provided telephone-based follow-up and management after discharge.


RESULTS
An average of four phone calls over 9 days was required per patient. No complications were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this study support the APN telephone management of postoperative pain once children are discharged following extensive surgery.
Czarnecki
Michelle L
ML
Jane B. Petit Pain and Palliative Care Center, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. mczarnecki@chw.org
Garwood
Molly Murphy
MM
Weisman
Steven J
SJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000359:Aftercare / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000451:nursing; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009731:Nursing Audit; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D013689:Telephone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014922:Wisconsin
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid