Taking a Multidisciplinary Approach to a Nerve Block Program in the Ambulatory Setting

Purpose:
The purpose of the clinical nerve block program at Stamford Hospital is to incorporate the pain and comfort clinical guidelines of the Association of Post Anesthesia Care Nurses (ASPAN) to reduce the need for additional analgesia during the post-operative recovery phase.

Significance:
To create a high quality nerve block program that leads to positive outcomes for our patients. At the start of our program four nurses from the pre-operative area were educated and trained by an anesthesiologist, and rotated weekly as the Nerve Block Nurse.

Strategy and Implementation:
The critical ingredient to the success of our program was to ensure we had all the essential team members. Taking a multidisciplinary team approach in managing the patient's pain in the Perioperative setting, proved that the role and expertise of the Nerve Block Nurse was an essential component in enhancing positive outcome for our patients and for the success of this program.

Evaluation:
Our success is measured by reduce length of stay as well as an increase overall patient satisfaction and pain managementcontrol.

Implications for Practice:
Controlling pain at any level of the patient's care is of increased importance to all members of a healthcare team. The methods employed at Stamford Hospital to reduce postoperative pain have resulted in positive outcomes that can be utilized in any postoperative setting.