title: What were they thinking? Nursing students' thought processes underlying pain management decisions.
abstract: Patients' pain has not been adequately controlled due to inaccurate assessments, inadequate treatments, and inconsistent nursing care. The purpose of the study was to determine the extent of nursing students' accuracy in assessment ratings and treatment choices for patients in a case vignette who were experiencing pain and then to determine the thought processes underlying their decisions. Written rationales in response to two patient scenarios reveal students' thought processes when recording pain intensity levels on a numerical scale and choosing corresponding dosages of analgesics. Data collected from junior and senior nursing students provide insight for nurse educators and point to areas where curricula and instruction may be enhanced. Reforming teaching and learning practices when educating students about pain management could decrease patient suffering and lead to improved comfort and satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. crista.briggs@wku.edu
authors.forename: Crista L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Briggs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004506:Education, Nursing; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000451:nursing*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine