Family Practice Nursing Commons^™

Supporting Self-Care In Veterans With Chronic Pain: Nurse Practitioner-Led Telephone Follow-Up, Marissa A. Munsayac Bsn, Rn, Dnp(S)

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background
Veterans are disproportionately affected by chronic pain. Conventional pain management lacks emphasis on self-care and relies heavily on prescription opioids. Primary care providers (PCP) are able to educate veterans on self-care management; however, frequent follow-up is needed to improve overall pain and quality of life.

Objective
To implement a Nurse Practitioner (NP) telephone follow-up guided by the 5A’s framework among veterans with chronic pain in a primary care setting. This pilot evidence-based project (EBP) aimed to improve follow-up of self-care management in order to decrease pain, increase quality of life, and decrease pain medication use.

Materials & Methods
The …

Heart Failure Patient Self-Care: An Evidence-Based Outpatient Management Program, Christine Marie Ensign, Shelley Hawkins, Barry Greenberg

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: According to the American Heart Association, there are over 5 million people in the United States with heart failure (HF) and projections suggest the prevalence of HF will increase by 46% through 2030. HF is the most common cause of hospital admissions in the United States for patients age 65 years or older and despite improvement outcomes, national readmission rates remain high at 23%. Current guidelines recommend health professionals provide comprehensive HF education and counseling that is not only focused on knowledge, but also on skills of management and self-care behaviors. In order to achieve quality patient-centered care, …