Papers of the Week

Patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery may experience pain that is acute, chronic or a combination of the two, with less than half of all surgical patients reporting adequate pain relief. The National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON) and the American Society for Pain Management Nursing (ASPMN) have partnered to provide evidence-informed guidance to empower nurses to employ effective pain management. Understanding and applying ethical, evidence-informed, patient-focused, interprofessional interventions will improve outcomes for patients, clinicians, and healthcare organizations. Together, we encourage nurses to embrace the guiding principles presented in this Position Statement to provide optimal pain management for the orthopaedic patient.