A Novice Nurse’s Knowledge of Orthopedic Pain Management

Abstract

Orthopedic pain can be divided into two subgroups: acute and chronic pain. Acute pain is pain experienced immediately following injury and surgery lasting from a few days to a few months. Chronic pain lasts past the time of orthopedic injury healing. In the case of orthopedic pain, this can be several months depending on the nature of the injury. Orthopedic pain is often insufficiently managed and leads to complications ranging from chronic pain to added stress on the healthcare system. Pain is subjective and without the proper knowledge and experience, it can be difficult to manage and treat. The purpose of this honors capstone project was to explore a novice student nurse’s knowledge and attitudes regarding pain and pain management with an examination of the best practices in pain management in the orthopedic setting. The Knowledge and Attitude Survey by City of Hope was administered at two different intervals to examine knowledge and attitude of pain as a student healthcare worker and provide data regarding areas of needed pain education. Following a three-month internship, the reflection of practice enhanced personal knowledge, and skills as reflective in an increase of score on the survey. Recommendations for practice to include pharmacological and nonpharmacological methods were explored and investigated during the internship to establish optimal pain control in clientele.