American Society For Pain Management Nursing Research Articles

Factors affecting and strategies to improve pain management in emergency departments: a comprehensive systematic review.

Factors affecting and strategies to improve pain management in emergency departments: a comprehensive systematic review.

Factors That Influence Patient Advocacy by Pain Management Nurses: Results of the American Society for Pain Management Nursing Survey

What is the meaning of advocacy, and how does it relate to the nurse who wants patients to experience optimum pain management? This question and the lack of empirical data provided the stimulus for the American Society for Pain Management Nursing (ASPMN) Research Committee to explore ASPMN members' beliefs, knowledge, and skills regarding pain management advocacy activities. The specific aim of the study was to determine the educational needs for and barriers of advocacy for nurses working with patients experiencing pain. An ASPMN Advocacy Survey Instrument was developed to gather data about advocacy activities and interventions. The sample consisted of 188 ASPMN nurses (20% of the membership) who responded via the internet. Study findings revealed that the majority of nurse respondents were active in personal advocacy, serving as guardians of the patient. They confronted physicians as necessary and assisted patients to evaluate their pain management. Regarding making the public aware of pain management–related issues (i.e., public awareness advocacy), the respondents were not as active. Respondents were knowledgeable about pain management and best practices/best evidence, with the exceptions of legislative issues and media training. These two areas need support and educational intervention. Additional areas in need of education and training, as identified by respondents, are social and political advocacy interventions. “Lack of time” was identified as the barrier to advocacy experienced by the greatest number of nurses.

Groundbreaking Summit

Groundbreaking Summit

Authorized and Unauthorized (“PCA by Proxy”) Dosing of Analgesic Infusion Pumps: Position Statement with Clinical Practice Recommendations

The American Society for Pain Management Nursing (ASPMN), in order to address sentinel alerts issued by JCAHO in 2004 and ISMP in 2005 concerning “PCA by Proxy”, has developed a position statement and clinical practice recommendations on Authorized and Unauthorized (PCA by Proxy) Dosing of Analgesic Infusion Pumps, approved by the Board of Directors in June of 2006. In short, ASPMN does not support the use of “PCA by Proxy”. ASPMN does, however, support the practice of Authorized Agent Controlled Analgesia in a variety of patient care settings when the agency has in place clear guidelines outlining the conditions under which this practice shall be implemented and outlining monitoring procedures that will insure safe use of the therapy. In addition to outlining this position, the paper clarifies and distinguishes between the unsafe practice of “PCA by Proxy”, in which unauthorized individuals activate the dosing button of an analgesic infusion pump for a patient receiving Patient Controlled Analgesia, and the safe practice of Authorized Agent Controlled Analgesia (AACA). Furthermore, the paper examines the ethical and safety issues and outlines the necessary screening and patient/family education needed to implement AACA. The position statement describes criteria for the use of AACA, guidelines for selection and education of the authorized agent, key prescription and monitoring recommendations during therapy, and quality improvement activities to insure safety and effectiveness.