Changing pain management practice and impacting on patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Pain Management
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Acute pain management is a significant concern in patient care.
• Effective pain assessment and management are crucial nursing practice domains.
• Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) can lead initiatives to improve pain management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a comprehensive pain management program.
• To improve the assessment and documentation of postoperative pain.
• To enhance overall postoperative pain management and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A multidisciplinary team, led by a CNS, developed a program with assessment, intervention, and evaluation phases.
• Included a descriptive study of postoperative pain and a baseline audit of nursing documentation.
• Interventions comprised targeted education and new analgesic administration routes.

Main Results:

• Evaluations at 3 months and 2 years showed improved nursing documentation of pain assessments.
• Demonstrated enhanced management of postoperative pain.
• Patients reported decreased postoperative pain at follow-up evaluations.

Conclusions:

• The implemented pain management program led to significant improvements in pain assessment and management.
• The CNS role is pivotal in influencing nursing practice and improving patient outcomes in pain management.
• This initiative highlights the impact of structured programs on enhancing the quality of nursing care for acute pain.