Policy analysis: Appropriate opioid prescribing practices for post-surgical patients

Author

Joan S. Daversa, James Madison UniversityFollow

Preferred Name

Joan Daversa

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Date of Graduation

12-11-2020

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

School of Nursing

Advisor(s)

Maria deValpine

Cheryl Sharp

Abstract

The pervasiveness of legally prescribed opioids in the United States has led to increased post-surgical patients succumbing to opioid dependence. There is a vast disparity in pain management practices across clinical settings. The lack of well-defined policies specifying opioid prescribing practices for post-surgical patients has created inconsistency among providers. This situation creates a risk for misuse and long-term opioid dependence for patients. This policy analysis aims to implement an evidence-based opioid prescribing policy for post-surgical patients to improve current opioid prescribing practices and implement a best practice culture to reduce excessive opioid practices. Collins (2005) health policy analysis adapted from Bardachs eightfold path to more effective problem solving (2000) guided the assembly and comparison of three evidence-based policies to reduce adverse effects of overprescribing practices with opioids. Three policy options assessed prescribing guidelines, patient risk assessment tools, and multimodal analgesia therapy with the intent to implement one or more.

Keywords: dependence, opioids, policy analysis, post-surgical patients, opioid prescribing guidelines, risk assessment, pain management.

Recommended Citation

Daversa, Joan S., "Policy analysis: Appropriate opioid prescribing practices for post-surgical patients" (2020). Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current. 7.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/dnp202029/7