The Ever-Changing ME

I started the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Emory University with the one idea to transform palliative care in all healthcare settings. Over the past three years, I have learned I can accomplish so much more.

 

Realizing the need for a better understanding of pain assessment and practice, I have come to the idea of positive pain education can lead to better pain management.

 

I dedicated my project to improving pain assessment documentation on a hospital unit caring for oncology patients. The project did show success, as it did show improvement. 

 

The magnitude of this project is far-reaching beyond pain assessment documentation.

 

I found the need to continue education to nursing and prescribers of pain medication. Healthcare providers have limited knowledge regarding the types of pain medications available, especially opioids, and how to safely prescribe them. Nurses also could benefit from pain medication education. 

 

Recommendations for further quality improvement projects include the following:

 

1. Increase the use of a personal pain goal for each patient when deciding on pain management and readily charting the score.

 

2. Improve documentation of pain assessment pre/post-intervention via the electronic health record.

 

3. Provide healthcare provider education on opioid equivalencies and better prescribing techniques for safer care. 

 

Transformation of health by changing pain assessment and opioid prescribing practices.