Nurses’ Performance Regarding Pain Management of Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

An acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The most common symptom of AMI is sudden onset of severe chest pain. The nurse should determine the appropriate pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain relief methods. The aims of the study 1- assessment of the nurses' level of performance regarding pain management of patients with acute myocardial infarction 2-identifying the factors affecting the nurses' performance regarding pain management of patients with acute myocardial infarction. Study design: a descriptive study was used to achieve the aim of this study. Subject: A purposive subject of (55) registered nurses caring for patients with AMI. Tools: two tools were used for data collection; self-administered questionnaire sheet and the nurses’ practice observational checklist. Results and conclusion the results of this study showed that, (75%) of the studied nurses were having unsatisfactory total level of knowledge regarding pain management of patients with AMI, while all of them had got unsatisfactory level of practice and negative attitude. Many factors affecting negatively on their performance; job satisfaction related factors, work organization related factors and professional support related factors (96.4%, 87.3% &78.2%) respectively, while communication related factors affecting positively on their performance (93.9%). Recommendation In-service training program must be developed based on need assessment for nurses in relation to pain assessment and management associated with AMI and evaluating the effect of its implementation on their performance and patients' outcome.