Nurse screening for neuropathic pain in postoperative patients

This study was designed to audit nurse assessment and documentation for neuropathic pain in postoperative patients. The audit focused on recorded signs of neuropathic pain in the immediate postoperative period. Nurses were educated on how to screen patients for neuropathic signs using the validated and reliable 7-item DN4. Data were obtained from 450 patient charts from the thoracic, orthopaedic and spinal units. Of the 450 patient charts reviewed, 423 included a record of nurse screening of neuropathic pain signs. Screening by nurses found 24% (n=102) of the patients reported between one and four signs of neuropathic pain within the first 3 days following their surgery. This study demonstrated that the incorporation of the 7-item DN4 neuropathic pain assessment tool within the generic pain chart enabled nurses to regularly screen postoperative patients for signs of neuropathic pain in the immediate postoperative period.