Help with Nursing Reasearch/ Evidence Based Practice

[princessinpink]

I'm doing a research paper/ lit review on which interventions (pharmacological vs. nonpharmacological) better control phantom limb pain. What current studies are saying is that there hasn't been enough research to decide whether one is better than the other. Morphine in combination with other analgesics such as NSAIDs have been effective in controling pain. Mirror therapy is also mentioned as one of the nonpharm interventions that seem to work.

Now we have to come up with nursing implications. How would this information benefit the nursing practice? How would nurses use this information?

Some of the nursing implications that we came up with is that if nonpharm interventions work, then nurses could use nonpharm intervention first to lessen potential side effects of drugs. Another one is that there is an increasing number of people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, that can lead to amputation- thus phantom limb pain.

I need a few more and im coming up blank. HELP!!

Thanks!

[ImMrBill3, RN]

From what you have said it seems that EBP would lead to NSAIDS with Morphine as most effective. Nsg Imp could be to advocate for that medication regimen for pts with phantom limb pain. Any studies discussing non pharm in conjunction? Then nsg implication from evidence would be for nurse to implement non pharm in addition to administering meds as prescribed. Nsg imp might also be to use NSAIDS and Morphine together if both are prescribed PRN. Nsg implication might be for nurses to get training in mirror therapy or other non pharms, need time for providing that kind of care, in advocating for combination medication documentation of effectiveness. I hope that helps. Remember you want to start with what the evidence shows works and then look at what you would do as a nurse to implement.

[princessinpink]

thank you!

2 more nonpharm intv that are being used today are the trancutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (tens) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (emdr).

[ImMrBill3, RN]

thank you!

2 more nonpharm intv that are being used today are the trancutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (tens) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (emdr).

so now you can add the nursing implications of knowing how to administer those treatments, advocating for their use with prescribing providers and facilities.

[princessinpink]

Anybody else has an input? I would really appreciate it.