Name
Capella University
NURS-FPX8045
Prof. Name
October, 2024
Conceptualizing a Potential Project – Signature Assessment
In the ever-changing healthcare scenario, adequate postoperative pain relief is still an essential question. In Riverside Community Hospital, such practice is lacking because its patients are not evaluated through standardized pain scales and education regarding pain management is not given (Coccolini et al., 2022). Therefore, their pains were not able to be managed properly and patients were not satisfied in returning to the hospitals. Most of the postoperative patients report not being prepared to encounter pain after surgery which further increases the patients’ recovery time and readmission in the hospital.
Proposed Intervention
It is considered critical for filling the gap with a holistic intervention, which would include standard pain protocol and education of the patient aimed at the needs of the postoperative patient, to achieve improvement in the control of pain in three months, and also satisfaction on the part of the patient (Bhatt et al., 2024)t.
PICOT Question
The steering PICOT question for the project is, Therefore: In post-operative patients in Riverside Community Hospital (P), how will the utilization of a standardized protocol for pain management coupled with an education program (I) compared to the current practices (C) result in the difference in pain level and satisfaction in the patients themselves within three months (T)?
Analysis and Synthesis of Research
At Riverside Community Hospital, the management of post-operative pain is a big gap in practice (Wooldridge & Branney, 2020). Studies on inadequate pain management bring out the worst outcomes for patients such as longer recovery times, increased readmission rates, and low patient satisfaction. In this hospital, the current management of pain practices do not have a standardized approach towards assessing and managing pain among all the patients hence causing variability regarding the experience of pain relief experienced by the patients. This inconsistency affects not only patient comfort but also complicates recovery patterns, thus calling for an organized intervention. A literature review will reveal that clear pain management policies characterized by full patient education will greatly benefit postoperative recovery. It has been shown that standardized assessment tools of pain like NRS improve communications between health providers and patients and enhance tailored pain management approaches. Apart from these, educational interventions that would inform the patient about various options in pain management and self-assessment techniques have contributed to the facilitation of increased patient participation and satisfaction. These results give way to evidence of advantageously establishing a comprehensive pain management protocol at Riverside Community Hospital.
There are still several areas of uncertainty despite promising evidence which may act as a hindrance to the successful implementation of a standardized pain management protocol. Available literature about the specific demographics and patient population at Riverside Community Hospital is limited and may impact the way pain management should occur in this context. A proper understanding of the cultural, socioeconomic, and psychological factors impacting the experience of pain among these patients will be critical for their effective tailoring to a solution (Rahel et al., 2023). Further evidence should be explored on the long-term effects of standardized pain management protocols on patients’ outcomes beyond immediate satisfaction and pain levels. Hence, recovery time, functional outcomes, and healthcare cost impacts will be major points of investigation for future studies based on such protocols. Knowing these would provide a more comprehensive rationale for the new pain management intervention to be implemented in Riverside Community Hospital to address the knowledge gaps in this regard.
Recommendations to Stakeholders
The proposed standardized pain management protocol should be implemented together with a patient education program to bridge the gap found in post-surgical pain management at Riverside Community Hospital (Grommi et al., 2023). The intervention would include training the healthcare providers on appropriate pain assessment techniques, including the use of the Numeric Rating Scale, to assure that all the patients will have a uniform and accurate assessment. Educating patients about their available options in pain management with comprehensive educational material will empower them to be active participants in their care. Workshops and information forums will engage patients and their families, helping to understand how essential proper pain management is, and encouraging them to speak freely with healthcare providers about their experiences with pain. It can hence provide the patients with a better post-operative experience and simultaneously enhance patient satisfaction in the hospital.
The intervention put in place must be evaluated against set criteria, such as assessing patients’ reported levels of pain priorbeforeimplementation of the standardized protocol, as well as monitoring the scores on patient satisfaction relating to pain management. The new rate of post-opostoperativeications and hospital readmission for pain that is poorly controlled will be followed to have a method of understanding how effective the new protocol is (Adam et al., 2023). Continuous feedback from the patient population and the healthcare staff must always be sought in identifying areas for improvement and ensuring that the intervention remains sensitive to what the patients need. Therefore, with this framework of continuous evaluation, Riverside Community Hospital can adapt to change and improve its approach to the management of pain and continue delivering quality care to its patients.
Communicate with Stakeholders
The proposed standardized pain management protocol should be implemented together with a patient education program to bridge the gap found in post-surgical pain management at Riverside Community Hospital (Lee & Rosenberg, 2023). The intervention would include training the healthcare providers on appropriate pain assessment techniques, including the use of the Numeric Rating Scale, to assure that all the patients will have a uniform and accurate assessment. Educating patients about their available options in pain management with comprehensive educational material will empower them to be active participants in their care. Workshops and information forums will engage patients and their families, helping to understand how essential proper pain management is, and encouraging them to speak freely with healthcare providers about their experiences with pain. It can hence provide the patients with a better post-operative experience and simultaneously enhance patient satisfaction in the hospital.
The intervention put in place must be evaluated against set criteria, such as assessing patients’ reported levels of pain before the implementation of the standardized protocol, as well as monitoring the scores on patient satisfaction relating to pain management (Veldhuizen et al., 2021). The new rate of post-operative complications and hospital readmission for pain that is poorly controlled will be followed to have a method of understanding how effective the new protocol is. Continuous feedback from the patient population and the healthcare staff must always be sought in identifying areas for improvement and ensuring that the intervention remains sensitive to what the patients need. Therefore, with this framework of continuous evaluation, Riverside Community Hospital can adapt to change and improve its approach to the management of pain and continue delivering quality care to its patients.
NURS FPX 8045 Assessment 7 Conclusion
Improved postoperative pain management at the Riverside Community Hospital requires filling that gap to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction (Baker et al., 2024). This can be done through a standardized pain management protocol complemented by an educational initiative for healthcare providers and patients alike. The evidence collected underlines the role of consistent pain assessment and communication that properly ties the patients to their care teams, leading thus to improved recovery experiences. Second, the communication will be adapted to the implementation team using plain language, that engages all stakeholders in the process to keep them informed. The new protocol’s effectiveness will be measured through known performance indicators that can learn crucial steps for improvement. With these strategic practices, the approach towards the need for pain control at Riverside Community Hospital can be very much improved to result in greater patient satisfaction and better health outcomes.
NURS FPX 8045 Assessment 7 References
Adam, S. L., Khraim, F., Tawafsheh, A. M., & Forgrave, D. (2023). Effect of pre-operative education on postoperative pain management among adult patients undergoing elective surgery: An integrative review. Qspace.qu.edu.qa. https://qspace.qu.edu.qa/handle/10576/51176
Baker, M. B., Liu, E. C., Bully, M. A., Hsieh, A., Ala Nozari, Tuler, M., & Binda, D. D. (2024). Overcoming barriers: a comprehensive review of chronic pain management and accessibility challenges in rural America. Healthcare, 12(17), 1765–1765. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12171765
Bhatt, A., Bhatt, A., & Sullivan, D. (2024). Optimizing patient comfort. Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnc.2024.07.003
Coccolini, F., Corradi, F., Sartelli, M., Coimbra, R., Kryvoruchko, I. A., Leppaniemi, A., Doklestic, K., Bignami, E., Biancofiore, G., Bala, M., Marco, C., Damaskos, D., Biffl, W. L., Fugazzola, P., Santonastaso, D., Agnoletti, V., Sbarbaro, C., Nacoti, M., Hardcastle, T. C., & Mariani, D. (2022). Postoperative pain management in non-traumatic emergency general surgery: Wses-gais-siaarti-aast guidelines. World Journal of Emergency Surgery, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13017-022-00455-7
Grommi, S., Vaajoki, A., Voutilainen, A., & Kankkunen, P. (2023). Effect of pain education interventions on registered nurses’ pain management: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain Management Nursing, 24(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2023.03.004
Lee, Y. J., & Rosenberg, C. (2023). Improving perioperative pain education for patients prescribed opioids: An integrative review. Pain management nursing: Official Journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses, S1524-9042(23)000942. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2023.04.009
Rahel, R., Bello, C., Romero, C. S., Urman, R. D., Luedi, M. M., & Filipovic, M. G. (2023). Cultural framing and the impact on acute pain and pain services. Cultural Framing and the Impact on Acute Pain and Pain Services. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-023-01125-2
Veldhuizen, J. D., Hafsteinsdóttir, T. B., Mikkers, M. C., Bleijenberg, N., & Schuurmans, M. J. (2021). Evidence-based interventions and nurse-sensitive outcomes in district nursing care: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances, 3, 100053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnsa.2021.100053
Wooldridge, S., & Branney, J. (2020). Congruence between nurses’ and patients’ assessment of postoperative pain: A literature review. British Journal of Nursing, 29(4), 212–220. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2020.29.4.212
