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ACUTE PAIN MANAGEMENT IN CANADIAN TEACHING HOSPITALS: NURSING'S ROLE

Department of Anesthesiology, Queen's University, Kingston General Hospital, 76 Stuart St., Kingston, Ontario, K7L 2V7

INTRODUCTION

To gain an understanding of the role of nursing in delivering acute pain management services (APMS)s.

METHODS

In June 2000, questionnaires were sent to 34 directors of APMSs in academic hospitals. By November the response rate was 74%. Topics included: demographics, the structure and operations of APMSs, education, and data management.

RESULTS

62% of hospitals had a designated APMS nurse and a further 16% had some alternate form of nursing coverage. 25% of the APMS nurses were diploma nurses, 56% had a BScN, 19% had a MSc, 19% were nurse practitioners, and/or 38% were clinical nurse specialist. 35% of APMS nurses had less than 2 years experience in APMS, and 59% had more than 5 years experience. 32% provided education for nursing students, 72% had specific learning modules for nurses and 48% regularly recertified nurses.

The APMSs nurse's responsibilities included being on the APMS committee (35%), independent patient rounds (61%), rounds with APMS physician (67%), patient education (83%), staff education (89%), patient exit interviews (44%), writing policies and procedures (89%), updating service manuals (83%), and monitoring use of analgesic pumps (>70%). The APMS nurse was involved in pain control decisions in 48% of hospitals and the bedside nurse was involved in 32% of hospitals. In 68% of hospitals protocols were in place for nurses to alter analgesia and treat side effects based on symptoms. Visual analogue scale pain scores (71%), present pain index (24%), Oucher (16%) and various types of verbal rating scales (16%) were used to measure pain. In over 60% of hospitals information was collected on nausea and vomiting, hypotension, sedation, and pruritus, in addition to other side effects. 52% collected information on the treatment of side effects, and 48% collected information on the success of treatment. APMS data were collected primarily by the APMS nurse (54%) and/or anesthesiologist (60%). 68% of hospitals used a data collection tool on rounds, 88% had APMS nursing flow sheets at the bedside, and 28% had computerized data collection.

DISCUSSION

The preliminary results of this survey indicate that nursing is involved in all levels of APMSs.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a scholarly reply Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by VanDenKerkhof, E. G. Articles by Goldstein, D. H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by VanDenKerkhof, E. G. Articles by Goldstein, D. H.