Assessing the Role of Advanced Practice Nursing in Managing Chronic Pain Among Adult Patients

Posted: Feb 06, 2023

• Zoe Turner
• Brayden Keller
• Alaina Torres

Abstract

This comprehensive study examines the evolving role of Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) in chronic pain management through a novel methodological framework that integrates clinical outcomes with patient-reported experience measures. Unlike traditional approaches that focus primarily on pharmacological interventions, our research employs a multi-dimensional assessment matrix that captures the complex interplay between clinical expertise, therapeutic relationships, and patient empowerment. We developed and implemented the Integrated Pain Management Competency Framework (IPMCF), which evaluates APN performance across four domains: clinical decision-making, interdisciplinary collaboration, patient education, and advocacy. The study followed 347 adult patients with chronic non-cancer pain over a 12-month period, with data collected through mixed methods including standardized pain scales, qualitative interviews, and observational assessments of clinical encounters. Our findings reveal that APN-led pain management resulted in a 42