title: The assessment and management of pain in an orthopaedic out-patient setting: A case study.
abstract: The management of pain is an important aspect of an orthopaedic nurse's role. The aim of this paper is to use an individual case study to demonstrate the role of an out-patient orthopaedic nurse in the identification, assessment and management of pain. This paper describes how pain was identified and managed for a patient in the orthopaedic outpatient department, highlighting that pain and its management are not isolated to the in-patient setting. The case study illustrates the importance of recognising pain and taking into account the numerous factors that can influence pain perception. The assessment of an individual patient's pain led to obtaining help from the Acute Pain Team which led to improvement in the patient's pain management and quality of life. The nursing team reflected and discussed the issues identified by this case study which led to changes in practice being introduced. This has resulted in an increased knowledge of and confidence in pain management within the nursing team and development and improvement of pain management practice within the orthopaedic out-patient department.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Out-patients Department, Royal Bolton Hospital, Minerva Road, Bolton BL4 0JR, UK.
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Jean MacFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. Electronic address: Julie.gregory@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gregory
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000451:nursing*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D016530:Orthopedic Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000451:nursing*; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Acute pain team; Analgesia; Education; Nurse role; Orthopaedic out-patients; Pain assessment; Pain management; Practice development