Research utilization in critical care: an exemplar

The authors describe the process and outcome of implementing a research-based pain management protocol in four adult critical care units at a large, Midwestern tertiary care center. The project was initiated and directed by members of the divisional research committee. Strategies used to change practice included determining if pain management was a problem via quality assessment monitors, surveying nurses regarding their knowledge and attitude toward pain management, educating staff members about the research base for the practice change, using change champions in each unit, and developing a core group of nurses in each unit to facilitate the change. Outcomes of this research utilization project include a 41% decline in the number of patients in pain, a 44% decline in pain intensity, and improvement in nurses knowledge about pain.