Bridging Gaps in Pain Management: A Qualitative Study of Nurse Navigator Roles

Area of Science:

• Healthcare delivery
• Nursing practice
• Pain management

Background:

• Adults with pain living in community settings often face challenges in accessing coordinated and comprehensive care.
• Existing care models may not fully address the multifaceted needs of patients requiring ongoing pain management.
• The role of specialized healthcare professionals, such as Nurse Navigators, is increasingly recognized for its potential to bridge care gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore healthcare professionals' perspectives on the utility of the Nurse Navigator (NN) role in enhancing pain management for community-dwelling adults.
• To identify key functions and contributions of NNs in supporting patients with pain.
• To understand how NNs can address barriers to effective pain management in non-acute care settings.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative descriptive study design was utilized.
• Virtual focus groups were conducted with seven U.S.-based healthcare professionals experienced in nurse navigation, care coordination, or case management.
• Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis to identify emergent themes.

Main Results:

• Four primary themes emerged: Creative Problem Solving, Functional Roles of Care Navigation, Relational Roles of Care Navigation, and Emotional Support.
• Nurse Navigators were perceived to play a crucial role in coordinating care, managing resources, and building therapeutic relationships.
• The findings highlighted the capacity of NNs to provide essential emotional support, contributing to person-centered pain management.

Conclusions:

• Nurse Navigators demonstrate significant potential to improve pain management outcomes through personalized advocacy and coordinated care.
• Integrating NNs into healthcare teams can help overcome systemic barriers and enhance patient support in community settings.
• Investing in formal training, role standardization, and supportive policies for NNs is recommended to optimize their impact on community-based pain management.