McNamara, Harmon, & Saunders (2012) noted the positive effects of educational intervention and training in pain management. A study was conducted among nurses (N=59) in
Ireland. The result of the study demonstrated a significant improvement on nurses’ knowledge and attitude towards pain assessment after attending an acute pain educational program.
Consistent with the above findings, Ho, S., Ho, C., Pang Yuen, H., Lexshimi, R., & Choy, Y.
(2013) conducted a study among nurses (N=86) in Malaysia. The outcome of the study showed that nurses who have previously attended a pain course have increased their knowledge and attitude towards pain management using a modified NKASRP. It was noted in the study that pain education and nurses’ knowledge on
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Nurses are continually faced with the challenges of the treating pain. To ensure the best quality of care for patients, nurses need effective knowledge, skills, and attitudes to address pain issues (Stanley & Pollard, 2013). Despite the findings and recommendation of substantial past research, nurses continue to demonstrate inadequate knowledge of pain assessment and pain management interventions (Wells et al., 2008). From reports in the literature, knowledge about pain management and attitudes which underpin nurses’ pain management decisions are problematic. Nurses’ knowledge of the mechanism of pain, pain assessment and pharmacological and non-pharmacological management are essential components in promoting positive patient outcomes (Al Shaer et al., 2011). The following sections will further explain the definition of pain, acute and chronic pain, pain theories, repercussions of untreated pain, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions to acute pain.
IMPROVING NURSES’ PAIN MANAGEMENT IN PACU 14
Definition of pain
The International Association for the Study of Pain in 1979, defines pain as “unpleasant sensory or emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage”
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Taking a closer look at postoperative pain, it is important to discuss the mechanism for acute pain generation. Acute pain starts with recognition of noxious stimuli signaling from recently damaged tissue. The sensory pathways for pain caused by tissue damage transmit information from the damaged tissue to the central nervous system
(nociception). Nociceptive pain is accompanied by an inflammatory, visceral and neuropathic pain mechanism. The sensitization of peripheral and central neuronal structures amplifies the pain and sustains postoperative pain (International Association for the Study of Pain [IASP],
2011). Acute pain can cause significant physiological and psychological effects. The physiological effects of acute pain involve changes in cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, metabolic, gastrointestinal and hemostasis (Pain Community Center.org, 2013). The patients’ experience of acute pain can be explained by pain theories such as gate control theory (Moayedi
& Davis, 2013).
Theories of pain
There are a number of theories that have been postulated to describe the