Development of a Comprehensive, Evidence-Based Nurse Practitioner Orientation for Postoperative Pain Management

Each year, the number of new nurse practitioners (NP) increases, with an estimated 31% surge in job growth projected over the next ten years. Postoperative pain management is a specialty area in which NPs practice, yet the level of formal education that NPs receive has not been well addressed in the literature. Nonetheless, the beneficial implications of a post-graduate orientation and continued specialized training are empirically evident. Postoperative pain control is an essential component of surgical recovery and thus, having well-prepared NPs for this role is imperative. The purpose of this project was to develop a comprehensive, theory-guided and evidence-based postoperative pain management orientation to provide a clear practice blueprint for NPs entering the postoperative pain management specialty. The orientation’s conceptual framework was grounded within the four pillars of the Competency Outcomes Performance Assessment (COPA) Model. These four pillars include postoperative pain management core practice competencies, competency outcomes, learning strategies and performance examinations. The postoperative pain management orientation will serve as an educational instrument for NPs new to the specialty, as well as for their preceptors. Furthermore, it will signify the means to promote a smooth transition to a new NP role