New pain clinicians a resource for RNs

As nurses in the VGH Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU), Jenni Sakai and Stephannie Westerberg know first-hand how difficult pain management can be. Patients with a history of complex pain, or patients who undergo invasive and complex surgeries, often face a challenging recovery. And, as PACU nurses, Jenni and Stephannie haven’t had the opportunity to follow patients through the process — until now. Thanks to a pilot project within Perioperative Pain Service (POPS), the duo will trial a new pain clinician role.

Jenni and Stephannie will take turns rotating in and out of the Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit general duty nurse lines every three months to serve as a pain clinician on the wards. “I feel privileged to have this opportunity,” says Stephannie. “We’ll follow patients from the recovery room to the wards, where we can serve as a resource for RNs to help ease suffering.”

Jenni nods. “I’m excited to learn new modalities of pain management and share my knowledge with others,” she says. “We’ll partner with the RNs to help them problem-solve and tap into resources.”

The pair will work closely with the POPS anaesthesiologist to care for the 80 patients the perioperative pain service follows every week. In addition, Jenni and Stephannie will teach on the wards and in the PACU to advance nursing practice as it relates to post-operative pain management.

“Both Jennifer and Stephannie can draw on their extensive experience in the PACU and surgical wards to provide patients an optimal continuity of care from the immediate post-operative period through to discharge,” says Dr. Kevin Froehlich, co-director of POPS.

As pain clinicians, Jenni and Stephannie will participate in daily rounds with the POPS anaesthesiologist, and play a pivotal role as liaisons between the PACU and wards.  “They’ll provide feedback to both areas and help us advance post-surgical acute pain management to the next level,” adds Kevin.

So, don’t be shy. “Feel free to approach us,” Jenni insists. “We’re there to be supportive and to help alleviate patients’ pain.”