Improved Patient & Staff Experience: Benefits of a Poke and Comfort Plan for Needle Procedures

• Published in: Pain management nursing 2024-04, Vol.25 (2), p.e161-e161
• Main Author: Merkel, Sandra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1524-9042; 1532-8635
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pmn.2024.02.043

Creating a poke and comfort plan is beneficial to patients who are undergoing needlestick procedures. A needlestick is a biophysical experience which may cause pain, fear, and anxiety. Needlesticks and procedures are common occurrences in healthcare. Regardless of the procedure or the setting, patients may experience pain, fear and anxiety resulting in short-term suffering influencing permanent changes in pain systems and pain responses. Patients, especially children who are fearful and have high anxiety, may refuse to cooperate. Not addressing patient fears and not meeting their individualized needs, can have an impact on timely and successful treatment. Patients may learn to distrust the healthcare team. The healthcare team's goal should be to work towards addressing fears, pain and improved comfort thereby improving the overall human experience for patients, families, and staff. In an effort to “do it better” a multidisciplinary group of healthcare staff partnered with patients and families to reduce pain and anxiety with needlesticks, developing an individualized “Poke Plan” based on evidence-informed practices to provide choices for pain management and comfort. Quality improvement principles and change strategies were utilized by the team for implementing the Poke & Procedure Comfort Plan. Integration into the electronic medical record facilitated systemwide use. A procedural document for needlestick and procedural pain management for all ages was written and approved by executive clinical leadership across the institution. Staff surveys, patient/caregiver interviews and Press Ganey data were used to evaluate implementation impact. A multidisciplinary observational research study was completed in the blood draw clinic. Varied education activities and programs for staff have increased their skills in “doing it better” with improvement in both patient and staff experiences. Ongoing education and evaluation must occur for sustainability. Giving a “voice and a choice” to patients undergoing needlesticks has also helped support self-advocacy for pain management and comfort.