Registry

Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2012 - 2013
Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	Pain Management in Nursing Practice
Module Code	NS556
School	School of Nursing and Human Sciences
Online Module Resources
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

This module presents and discusses anatomy, physiology and theories of pain relevant to the biopsychosocial model,especially the Gate Control Theory, in the context of a life span, systems theory and ecological approach to patients' pain experience. The impact of culture, genetics and individual differences on a person's pain experience will be addressed.The module relates theory to practice and equips the student with basic communication and pain assessment skills relevant to working with patients of all ages and different cultures who experience pain. The module addresses a range of biopsychosocial issues relevant to the treatment and management of pain of acute, chronic malignant and chronic non maligant origin, particularly: accessing the patient's experience through listening to patients' narratives; pharmacotherapeutic and non pharmacotherapeutic treatment options; impact of pain on domains of patients' quality of life; reduction in coping and self esteem and how to address specific needs of coping skills and empowerment for this patient population and their carers. Issues of self care and burn out prevention for healthcare professionals are also addressed.

Learning Outcomes

1. Critique the relevance of pain and systems theories; the biopsychosocial model, Gate Control Theory and ecological approachto evaluating and managing the patients pain experience.
2. Explain pain classifications and factors that influence perception of pain
3. Critique the rational for pain as the fifth vital sign and know how to apply to clinical practice
4. Demonstrate skills in listening to and empathising with patients' pain narrative and experience; demonstrate assessment skills relevant to pain assessment in different age groups from infants to older persons with cognitive, communication and dementia type dysfunction.
5. Appraise the WHO analgesic ladder and pharmacotherapeutic and nonpharmacotherapeutic interventionsfor pain management and symptom control, together with drug side effects and safety issues.
6. Explain and evaluate the implications of pain for a patients mental health and psychological wellbeing.
7. Demonstrate knowledge of, competence in, or know how to refer to, a range of psychoeducative and health promoting interventions that may contribute to modifying a patients pain experience and enhance patients' sense of self mastery, coping and empowerment.
8. Evaluate the effects of exposure to patients pain on nurses attitudes and psychological wellbeing and know how to care for self by preventing, recognising and managing personal stressors.

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Lecturer-supervised learning (contact)	38	based on indicative content, learning activities, tutorials, group work and discussions
Independent learning time	172	self directed study based on additional reading list
Clinical placement	40	reflective learning in practice
Total Workload: 250

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Psychoneurobiology of pain.
Anatomy and physiology of pain, the Gate Control Theory, (upgraded to the neuromatrix) and psychoneurophysiology of pain transmissionPain types/classifications and psychosocial, cultural, lifespan and gender aspects of pain and pain in special populations.

Pain assessment: understanding the patients' experience.
The role of the multidisciplinary pain team and clinic; quality in pain assessment in patients of all ages: best practice concepts and techniques; pain as the fifth vital sign; qualitative and qualitative pain measurement in humans; relevance of and limitations to various assessment tools in different patient populations across the lifespan; importance of communication skills and listening to understand the patients narrative; impact of pain on all domains of quality of life; appropriate referral..

Pharmacotherapeutic treatment interventions for pain management.
WHO analgesic ladder; pharmacotherapeutic interventions for pain management and symptom control; opioids and pharmacology; drug/treatment side effects and safety issues; addiction; placebo and painâ€¢psychological/mental health implications of pain and ethical/humanitarian obligations for treating pain;.

Nonpharmacotherapeutic treatment interventions.
role of CBT and CAM, CTS, communication and support in pain and associated stress management in modifying the patients pain experience, enhancing coping skills and self efficacy; empowerment of the patient with pain through communication, understanding through narrative, patient support and education especially health promotion and self care; relevant lifestyle modification and practice, including appropriate exercise, diet, sleep patterns; role of family support and patient and carer education.

Prevention of stress and burn out in nurses.
effects of exposure to patients pain on nurses attitudes, empathy and levels of burn out; implications for healthcare professionals own health, self care and career development; implications for nursing practice and quality of care.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assignment	Written	100%	Sem 1 End

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Ballantyne, J ebook: 2006, The Massachusetts General Handbook of Pain Management, 3rd, All, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA USA, 0781762243
Carr, DB, Loeser, JD, Morris, DB: 2005, Narrative, Pain and Suffering, IASP, 0-931092-57-4
MacLellan, K: 2006, Management of Pain; Expanding Nursing and Healthcare Practice, Nelson Thornes, UK, 0-7487-9621-5
Scott M Fishman (Editor), Jane C Ballantyne (Editor), James P Rathmell (Editor): 0, Bonica's Management of Pain, 978-0-7817-6827-6
Schofield, P Ed: 2007, The Management of Pain in Older People, Wiley, Chichester, 978-0-470-03349-4
Schofield, P & Merrick, J: 2008, Pain in Children and Youth, Nova, 978-1-60456-951-3
Melzack, R. and Wall, P. (1982, 1988, 1996): 1996, The Challenge of Pain, Penguin, London, 0-14-025670-9
Lavigne, G., Sessle, B, Choiniere, M, Soja, PJ: 2007, Sleep and Pain, IASP, Seattle, 093109262-0
Fillingham RB: 2000, Sex, Gender and Pain, IASP, Seattle,
List of recommended reading especially, but not exclusively, IASP Press books: 0,
edited by Robert J. Gatchel and Dennis C. Turk: 1996, Psychological approaches to pain management, Guilford Press, New York, 0-89862-292-1
edited by Thomas Hadjistavropoulos, Kenneth D. Craig: 0, Pain, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, N.J., 0-8058-4299-3
Suzanne M. Skevington: 1995, Psychology of pain, Wiley, Chichester, 0471957739
William K. Livingston; editor, Howard L. Fields: 1998, Pain and suffering, IASP Press, Seattle, 0-931092-24-8
Beatrice Sofaer: 1998, Pain, S. Thornes (Publishers), Cheltenham, UK, 0-7487-3329-9

Other Resources

510, IASP website, 0, 511, http://www.paineurope.com/, 0, 512, http://www.ipos-society.org/, 0, 513, http://www.ipos-society.org/survivors/links/pain.h, 0, 514, http://www.chronicpainireland.org/, 0,

Array

Programme or List of Programmes

GDCAHP

Grad Dip Child & Adol. Health Care Prac

GDCANP

Grad. Dip. Child & Adol. Nurs. Practice

GDGHP

Grad Dip in General Health Care Practice

GDGNP

Grad Dip in General Nursing Practice

GDIDHP

Grad Dip Intell. Dis. Health Care Prac.