Nurses' pain knowledge and pain management outcomes for post-operative patients

Pain management of the adult post-operative patient is often inadequate. Patient' pain perceptions have been incongruent with nurses' reports of patients' pain (Watt-Watson, Stevens, Garfinkel, Streiner, & Gallop, 2001). Although pain management standards have been established in hospitals, nurses' pain management practices may not follow standards. The Gate Control Theory (Melzack & Wall, 1965) is the theoretical framework for this study. The purpose of this correlational study is to examine the relationship between nurses' pain knowledge and pain management outcomes for post-operative patients with abdominal surgery. The sample will consist of 50 second day uncomplicated post-operative abdominal surgery patients aggregated with an assigned nurse from three mid-west metropolitan hospitals. Permission will be obtained from Ball State University and participating institutions. All information will remain confidential. The Toronto Pain Management Inventory and the McGill Pain Questionnaire-Short Form will be used. Results will provide information for improvement in nursing practices related to optimal post-op pain management.School of NursingThesis (M.S.