Delivering Quality Pain Management: The Challenge for Nurses

Abstract

The delivery of high-quality pain management in the perioperative environment can be challenging and difficult to quantify. Commonly used tools in delivering care, such as pain intensity ratings, individual pain experience reporting, assessments of individual patients' expectations, and patient satisfaction scores, have limitations and are not always useful when addressing quality improvement measures. Despite clinical advances in pain management, patients continue to experience inadequate pain control and inconsistent pain management practices. In this article, we discuss the challenges in providing consistent quality pain management, the need for a coordinated plan of care with a goal of meeting desired pain outcomes, and the essential role that perianesthesia and perioperative nurses play throughout the transitions in perioperative care to promote optimal pain management interventions based on the patient's individual needs.

Engagement and availability in shaping nurses’ management of postoperative pain: a qualitative study

“…Benner’s theoretical approach emphasizes the nurse-patient relationship in order to promote successful nursing practices in dealing with existing problems (23). The participants highlighted major practical situations in which they shared their own experiences of postoperative pain management with patients, in order to advise and educate patients about their medical condition, emotional and cognitive states, and the characteristics of pain.…”

“…The participants highlighted major practical situations in which they shared their own experiences of postoperative pain management with patients, in order to advise and educate patients about their medical condition, emotional and cognitive states, and the characteristics of pain. Such patient education empowers the patient to request and receive prompt evaluation and treatment (6, 23). The importance of effective nurse-patient communication has been indicated in achieving pain management, with the focus on addressing patient needs in the context of pre-existing social attitudes and underlying complexities existing in the culture (2, 23, 24).…”

“…Such patient education empowers the patient to request and receive prompt evaluation and treatment (6, 23). The importance of effective nurse-patient communication has been indicated in achieving pain management, with the focus on addressing patient needs in the context of pre-existing social attitudes and underlying complexities existing in the culture (2, 23, 24). Nevertheless, an engagement of nurses with their patients builds a trustful relationship, which is needed to adequately assess and treat the patients’ pain.…”

Transforming Care to Evidence‐Based Practice With Scripted Messages: An Improvement Project for Pain Management in Outpatient Surgical Patients

“…Two studies have shown nutrition education programs, which included scripted messages, were effective in changing nutrition beliefs and behaviors (Monterrosa et al., ; Penny et al., ). AORN recommendations for quality pain management include a sample script to convey the nurse's concern about patient comfort (Hayes & Gordon, ). In addition, scripting is recommended by experts in the intentional rounding literature (Harrington et al., ; Meade, Bursell, & Ketelsen, ), but the evidence for effectiveness is generally weak (Forde‐Johnston, ; McEwen & Dumpel, ).…”

Pain experience, pain management strategies and satisfaction of hospitalized trauma patients in Indonesia

“…[5][6][7] Patients' satisfaction with healthcare providers' pain management showed controversial findings. [3,8] The differences of sociocultural contexts among countries have been recognized as one of the influencing factors on how a person perceives pain experience, pain management, and pain outcomes. [9] Research on pain, pain management, and satisfaction in hospitalized trauma patients in Indonesia is limited.…”