The development of pain assessment and management skills in regional nurses caring for cognitively impaired older people: a needs analysis.

This project involved an analysis of the education needs of nurses in Toowoomba aged care settings regarding pain assessment and management in the cognitively impaired client.  Registered enrolled and unlicensed nurses were chosen for this study as they delivered the majority of direct client care and were in the best position to indicate the quality and extent of pain management in the area.

The findings of this study indicate a definite need for a dementia pain managmenet program for aged care nurses, specifically tailored to their needs and to the constraints of the regional practice setting.

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