Improvement in Nurses' Knowledge of Subcutaneous Catheter Use for Pain Management

Abstract

Background: Nurses often have insufficient knowledge of subcutaneous catheter use for pain management. This quality improvement project evaluated implementation of an evidence-based subcutaneous catheter nursing policy with education to improve pain management for hospitalized patients. Method: A convenience sample of nurses ( N = 515) completed a posttest after online training on effective subcutaneous pain management. Patient pain ratings were assessed to evaluate whether they changed after nurses' training. Results: Posttest scores showed the online learning module effectively contributed to nurses' knowledge of subcutaneous catheter pain management. A statistically significant reduction occurred in patient pain ratings ( p < .001) postintervention. The number of patients experiencing moderate or severe pain decreased by 58%, for a significant reduction in pain. Conclusion: An online learning module was successful in educating nurses on pain medication administration through an indwelling subcutaneous catheter. [ J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(1):13–20.]