Introducing Nurse Navigators to Improve Pain Management in the Community

Chronic pain among adults is a highly prevalent condition characterized by persistent gaps in care delivery, inequitable access to evidence-based interventions, and variable care continuity across clinical settings. Nurse Navigators are strategically positioned to help eliminate barriers by assisting in care coordination and person-centered resource maximization. A community-based nurse-led telehealth pilot program was implemented in the Northwestern United States as an extension of a state-funded evidence-based, online platform designed to promote nonpharmacologic pain management options and opioid risk reduction.

This initiative offered structured one-to-one virtual consultations and facilitated use of digital self-assessment and educational resources.

A convenience sample of adults (≥18 years) with self-reported chronic pain of at least 3 months' duration was recruited via email listservs. Eligible participants completed an initial videoconference session with a Pain Nurse Navigator and a follow-up session 10-14 days later.

Ten adults (80% female; mean age 65) with chronic pain participated and completed the follow-up survey. Most either agreed or strongly agreed that they felt comfortable in the sessions with the Pain Nurse Navigator (100%) and were satisfied with the ease of participation (100%) and level of support (90%) provided by the Pain Nurse Navigator. The median Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 score was 26, indicating acceptable levels of satisfaction for the program.

This pilot project established that a nurse-led pain navigation program can be delivered to adults living in a community setting, is acceptable to participants, and generated sufficient satisfaction scores to warrant further study.

The model may be adaptable in other settings pending outcome evaluation.