The Relationship Between Nursing Characteristics and Pain Care Quality

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine relationships between unit-level nursing characteristics (e.g. RN education, certification, RN hours per patient day) and hospital characteristics (e.g. Magnet designated, academic institution) with the unit average of patients' self-rated perception of pain and pain care quality. The study is a correlational analysis of cross-sectional data from the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) combined with data on pain care quality. The sample was a convenience sample that covered 170 hospitals across the U.S. with 725 reporting units. . The study found significant clinical relationships, although weak, between several variables. Strong relationships included: patient's average pain rating and nursing care hours per patient day; average pain and having pain medications available when needed. The strongest relationship was between percent pain relief and having pain medications available when needed. The study's findings that no significant differences presented across various unit types reinforce the point that pain is pervasive. Pain is also unique to each individual's subjective experience. Therefore, each patient's plan of care should be individualized, patient-centric, and unique to his or her experience.