Improving Pain Reassessment within One Hour Following the Administration of Pain Medication

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Pain has been identified as the main reason why patients go to the hospital and are hospitalized. Pain reassessment following administration of pain medication is vital to pain management. This project was conducted in a 24-bed stand-alone inpatient psychiatric facility in an urban area. It was found that pain reassessment in this facility was not consistent with the facility policy and the Joint Commission standard. The patient population in the facility is made up of adults of 18 years and above, with mental health diagnosis such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, et cetera. Some of the patients also presents with dual diagnosis, that is a mental illness with substance use. There are other patients who have Axis III diagnosis (general medical conditions). The staff involved in the project included nurses and Psychiatric Technicians commonly referred to as psych techs.</p> <p>The objectives of this project are to increase staff awareness and knowledge in pain reassessment, and to improve pain reassessment within one hour following the administration of pain medication by 30%. The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) role in this project was educator, team manager, and patient advocate. The methods used in the project include a microsystem assessment, a SWOT analysis, and root cause analysis to understand why pain reassessment is not done consistently.</p> <p>During the implementation phase of the project, the CNL embarked on providing in-service education to Nurses and Psych Techs, utilizing visual aids like brochures and posters. The CNL also worked work together with the Information Technology department and came up with a way of alerting staff when pain reassessment is due.</p> <p>At the end of the project, reassessment rate was increased from 67% before the start of the project to 79%. It is recommended that staff in-service continues until the goal of the project is reached, that is at 97%.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Level thesis:degree_level

Project/Capstone - Global access

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Baffoe-Twum, Linda N.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Danijela Pavlic

Repository record dc:identifier

https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/443

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.usfca.edu:capstone-1464