The Relationship Between Nurses' Completion of a Pain Management Educational Program and Nurses' Pain Management Behaviors

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between nurses' completion of a pain management educational program and nurses' pain management behaviors as evidenced by their documentation. Using a pretest/posttest design, the Chart Audit for Pain and the Pain Audit Tool were used to evaluate 136 chart entries by nurses assigned to surgical units. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square statistic. No significant relationship was found between nurses' completion of the pain management program and their documentation behaviors. Based on these findings a single educational program does not appear to be sufficient to change nurses' documentation behaviors regarding pain management. Frequently scheduled programs and administrative involvement in pain management educational plans were encouraged.