| Our knowledge of acute surgical pain management has evolved significantly. However, ineffective pain management practices continue to be a major health care concern. Such practices are related to nurses' inaccurate knowledge of pain assessment and management.;This descriptive, non-experimental study explored perianesthesia nurses' pain assessment and pain management knowledge during the immediate post anesthesia period. A convenience sample of 39 perianesthesia nurses representing free standing surgical centers and various types of acute care hospitals within a tri-state region of the Mid Atlantic States voluntarily participated.;Data were collected using the Perianesthesia Pain Assessment and Pain Management Survey. This tool, a revision of one developed by McCaffery and Ferrell (1997b), was piloted by 10 volunteer perianesthesia nurses. The content validity of the revisions was established by an expert panel.;Data analysis showed participants were knowledgeable about pain assessment but lacked appropriate pain management knowledge. Chi-square tests of independence showed no significant relationship among the participants' knowledge and their professional experience, education, or opportunity to have received pain management continuing education.;The results of this small sample are not generalizable. They are a foundation for future research to more accurately describe perianesthesia nurses' pain management knowledge and to identify existing barriers to effective pain management during the immediate post anesthesia period. |
