M. Grant et al., UNSCHEDULED READMISSIONS FOR UNCONTROLLED SYMPTOMS - A HEALTH-CARE CHALLENGE FOR NURSES, The Nursing clinics of North America, 30(4), 1995, pp. 673
The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of nursing strateg
ies to improve cancer pain management on hospital readmission for unco
ntrolled pain. Strategies include implementing a pain resource nurse p
rogram (PRN), making pain management a focus in the continuous quality
improvement process of the institution and creating a supportive care
service. Admissions were compared before and after implementation of
the strategies. Results for 1989 to 1990 revealed 5772 total admission
with 4.4% (255) admissions for uncontrolled pain; results for 1992 to
1993 revealed 4066 total admissions with 3.0% (121) admissions for un
controlled pain. Findings indicate that strategies were effective in r
educing the number of readmissions for uncontrolled pain.