|
|
Article: Changing acute pain management outcomes in surgical patients. (Research).
- Article from:
- AORN Journal
- Article date:
- February 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Clinicians worldwide long have pondered the problem of pain; however, inadequate pain management continues to be a pervasive clinical problem for hospitalized patients, resulting in physiological, psychological, and financial consequences. (1) Continuing pain is associated with morbidity and delayed discharge. Slowed healing, higher complication rates, anxiety, sleep disturbance, increased suffering, and lowered quality of life are significant sequelae. (2) Substantial economic impact results from longer lengths of stay in the hospital and unscheduled readmissions related to unrelieved pain. (3)
Though the principle of optimal pain management is accepted ...