Oncology nurses' use of nondrug pain interventions in practice

Cancer pain management guidelines recommend nondrug interventions as adjuvants to analgesic medications. Although physicians typically are responsible for pharmacologic pain treatments, oncology staff nurses, who spend considerable time with patients, are largely responsible for identifying and implementing nondrug pain treatments. Oncology nurses' use of nondrug interventions, however, has not been well studied. The purpose of this study was to describe oncology nurses' use of four nondrug interventions (music, guided imagery, relaxation, distraction) and to identify factors that influence their use in practice. A national sample of 724 oncology staff nurses completed a mailed survey regarding use of the nondrug interventions in practice, beliefs about the interventions, and demographic characteristics. The percentages of nurses who reported administering the strategies in practice at least sometimes were 54% for music, 40% for guided imagery, 82% for relaxation, and 80% for distraction. Use of each nondrug intervention was predicted by a composite score on beliefs about effectiveness of the intervention (e.g., perceived benefit; P<0.025) and a composite score on beliefs about support for carrying out the intervention (e.g., time; P<0.025). In addition, use of guided imagery was predicted by a composite score on beliefs about characteristics of patients who may benefit from the intervention (e.g., cognitive ability; P<0.05). Some nurse demographic, professional preparation, and practice environment characteristics also predicted use of individual nondrug interventions. Efforts to improve application of nondrug interventions should focus on innovative educational strategies, problem solving to secure support, and development and testing of new delivery methods that require less time from busy staff nurses.     

骨科无痛病房护理工作模式的建立

目的 提升护士疼痛管理理念,使患者得到优质的无痛服务.方法 构建骨科无痛病房护理工作模式,具体方法包括:明确组织架构与职责,进行持续性的人员培训、教育与考核,制订及实施疼痛控制程序,落实疼痛教育,进行阶段总结与反馈.结果 无痛病房护理工作模式建立后,护士在疼痛评估、疼痛一般知识、药物镇痛知识、疼痛知识的综合应用4个指标的得分均高于此模式建立前,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).实施无痛病房管理后,患者接受调查时、过去24h、手术后所经历的最严重疼痛程度均在5分以下(0～10级评分);患者对疼痛治疗方式、疼痛照顾、止痛效果的满意度评分在4分以上(5级评分),患者对护理工作质量满意度评分高于实施前,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 骨科无痛病房以患者为中心,实施规范化的疼痛管理,提高了护士的疼痛管理知识和技能,提高了患者的疼痛控制质量,患者得到了优质的无痛护理服务.     

Advanced practice nurses' scope of practice: a qualitative study of advanced clinical competencies

Scand J Caring Sci; 2011; 25; 661–670 Advanced practice nurses’ scope of practice: a qualitative study of advanced clinical competencies Aim To describe and explore Advanced Practice Nurses’ clinical competencies and how these are expressed in clinical practice. Background Discussion concerning advanced clinical practice has been ongoing in the USA since the 1960s and in the UK since the late 1980s. Approximately 24 countries, excluding the USA, have implemented the role of Advance Practice Nurse (APN). In the Nordic countries, especially Sweden and Finland, APNs have been introduced in some organizations but their competency domains have not yet been clearly defined. Theoretical framework The study’s theoretical framework emanates from Aristotle’s three‐dimensional view of knowledge that is epistêmê, technê, and phronesis. Methods Between October 2005 and January 2006, focus group interviews of Clinical Nurse Specialists who provide expert functions in pediatric, internal medicine, and surgical units (n = 26) and APN students (n = 8) were conducted. The data material was analyzed using inductive content analysis. Findings Grouped into five main themes, the study results indicate that APNs possess advanced level clinical competencies in: (A) assessment of patients’ caring needs and nursing care activities, (B) the caring relationship, (C) multi‐professional teamwork, (D) development of competence and nursing care, and (E) leadership in a learning and caring culture. Conclusion Clinical competencies consist of advanced skills, which typify an expanding role that offers new possibilities for holistic patient care practice. APNs’ scope of practice is characterized by responsibility and competence in making autonomous judgments based on expanded clinical competence. On an advanced level, clinical competence consists not merely of advanced skills for assessing and meeting the needs of patients but also the creation of safe and trustful relationships with patients and collaboration with colleagues. APNs can realize advanced skills in their actions through their manner of knowing, doing, and being.     

Critical care nurses' role in implementing the "ABCDE bundle" into practice

Imagine working in an environment where all patients undergoing mechanical ventilation are alert, calm, and delirium free. Envision practicing in an environment where nonvocal patients can effectively express their need for better pain control, repositioning, or emotional reassurance. Picture an intensive care unit where a nurse-led, interprofessional team practices evidence-based, patient-centered care focused on preserving and/or restoring their clients' physical, functional, and neurocognitive abilities. A recently proposed bundle of practices for the intensive care unit could advance the current practice environment toward this idealized environment. The Awakening and Breathing Coordination, Delirium Monitoring and Management, and Early Mobility (ABCDE) bundle incorporates the best available evidence related to delirium, immobility, sedation/analgesia, and ventilator management in the intensive care unit for adoption into everyday clinical practice.     

Reflective practice and its role in mental health nurses' practice development: a year-long study

The study reported in this paper lasted over a year, and identifies a conceptual framework of nursing practice based upon a relationship-building process. It also identifies six characteristics of nursing roles inherent within the practice of mental health nurses on a Nursing Development Unit. The paper presents a structure and process of reflection for nursing practice as illustrated by the work of a group of nurses working in a NDU. The purpose of the study was to help them better understand their work with patients. The findings from the study are used to explore how the nurses described and implemented individualized, patient-focused care. This care was based upon the ability of the nurse to communicate well and to build a relationship with a patient, bound within a context of change.     

Changing nurses' pain assessment practice: a collaborative research utilization approach*

It is not uncommon for a decade to pass between the time a research problem is identified and the time that research-based solutions are translated into standards for care This quasi-experimental study demonstrated the effectiveness of a collaborative research utilization model directed towards the transfer of specific research-based knowledge (pain assessment) into practice for the purpose of helping to solve pain management problems At the same time, nurses who participated in the model significantly improved their competency in research utilization and their attitudes towards research when compared to a control group who did not participate in the model     

Advanced practice nursing role: clinical nurse specialist

The public continues to demand quality health care that focuses on the achievement of quality patient outcomes. The clinical nurse specialist is an advanced practice role that originated in the early 1900s as a result of similar public demand, and continues to evolve to meet quality health care needs. Advanced practice nurses have many opportunities to create expanded nursing roles. Orthopaedic nurses also continue to refine their practice roles, and the clinical nurse specialist is one such example.     

Tasmanian nurses' knowledge of pain management

The aim of this research was to obtain information concerning knowledge of the pain management practices of Tasmanian nurses. We examined the knowledge of Tasmanian Registered Nurses in relation to pain management issues such as addiction, use of analgesics and the assessment of pain. In addition, we queried them about their satisfaction with information they had received about how to manage pain in both workplace programs and in their initial education. A total of 2768 registered nurses were mailed a 29-item survey examining knowledge of pain management practices. One thousand and fifteen valid surveys were returned. Mean scores on the knowledge questions (72% correct) of the survey revealed deficits in knowledge. Nurses specifically lacked up-to-date knowledge concerning the pharmacological management of pain, but displayed a more up-to-date knowledge concerning the effect of patient variables on pain perception. Nurses also rated the information they received about pain management during workplace programs as poor, feeling that they acquired significantly more in-depth information during their initial education. The results of this study have implications for institutions involved in both patient pain management and pain management education.     

Finnish nurses' attitudes to pain in children

This study measured the attitudes of Finnish paediatric nurses to children in pain and the connection between nurses' attitudes, nurses' attributes and nurses' own view of their knowledge and ability to take care of children in pain. The measurements were based on a purpose-designed instrument consisting of a 41-item Likert-type questionnaire and demographic data. The convenience sample consisted of paediatric nurses at all five university hospitals in Finland (n = 303). The response rate was 87%. ANOVA and non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA were used as statistical methods. The results show that, taken as a whole, the attitudes of these nurses do not hinder effective pain management but there are some misconceptions that need further attention. It also emerged that such attributes as nurses' age, education, experience, place of work and field of expertise do not have a significant effect on nurses' attitudes. Nurses working in operating theatres felt they had a limited scope to work together with parents and in some hospitals nurses felt they had limited scope to work together with other staff groups. The units differed significantly in nurses' views about the unit's possibilities to provide treatment for pain. The findings of this study indicate that although nurses' attitudes to pain management are mainly positive, there is much variation in how they feel they can actually provide quality care to control pain. More attention should be paid to training nurses and to providing knowledge about the treatment of pain in children. Future research should look at nurses' existing knowledge base as well as their activities in the assessment and management of pain.