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    Jennifer Mongoven

    Purpose: The purpose of this project was to develop core competencies in pain management for prelicensure clinical education that can serve as a framework in the development of comprehensive and effective pain care management curricula.... more
    Purpose: The purpose of this project was to develop core competencies in pain management for prelicensure clinical education that can serve as a framework in the development of comprehensive and effective pain care management curricula. Background: Pain is a complex health issue that can impact multiple facets of an individual’s life. Chronic pain affects over 100 million U.S. adults, resulting in an estimated economic cost of approximately $600 billion annually. While there is ample evidence supporting effective pain management, many health care professionals lack the knowledge necessary to adequately assess and treat pain. There is momentum within the nursing community to strengthen pain care; however, there is no agreement on the basic core competencies each beginning nurse should possess to effectively manage pain. Nursing is not unique in this regard. Health professional curricula are generally inadequate in addressing pain management competencies that ensure basic skills, know...
    Successful chronic care ideally involves patient engagement, but little is known about chronically ill older... more
    Successful chronic care ideally involves patient engagement, but little is known about chronically ill older adults' ability to self-manage their health. This study examines activation among hypertensive patients older than 65 years. Almost 60% of participants scored in the bottom half of the activation scale; only 8% scored at the highest level. Higher activation was associated with higher self-ratings of health, health literacy, and receipt of patient-centered care, shorter lengths of stay, and lower depression and hearing impairment levels. Effective self-management support for chronically ill elders will likely require varied strategies and may need to address depression, health literacy, and/or hearing impairments.