Review literature regarding issues or concerns within your selected area of advanced practice nursing.
Select a theory or model which is relevant to your selected area of advanced practice nursing.
Offer a meaningful context for evidence-based practice surrounding the issue or concern which you identified.
Identify and describe a theory or model, and explain its relevance to the issues or concerns within your selected area of advanced practice
Explain how the theory or model can be used as a framework to guide evidence-based practice to address the issue or concern, and discuss the unique insight or perspective offered through the application of this theory or model.
The CCM is highly relevant to chronic pain management because it shifts the focus from episodic treatment to a holistic, proactive approach. It emphasizes a partnership between an informed, activated patient and a prepared, proactive practice team. This model is perfectly suited for managing a complex, long-term condition like chronic pain, where multiple factors—physical, psychological, and social—are at play.
Guiding Evidence-Based Practice
The Chronic Care Model can be used as a framework to guide evidence-based practice in chronic pain management by addressing its six key elements:
Community Resources and Policies: APNs can use this element to advocate for policies that support alternative pain therapies, such as physical therapy or acupuncture, and connect patients with community resources like support groups and pain management clinics.
Health System: The model encourages a health system that prioritizes chronic pain management. APNs can lead the development of standardized protocols for pain assessment, treatment, and follow-up, ensuring that every patient receives consistent, high-quality care.
Self-Management Support: The CCM emphasizes empowering patients. APNs can implement evidence-based patient education programs on non-pharmacological pain management techniques, such as mindfulness, exercise, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This element directly addresses the issue of patient over-reliance on medication.
Delivery System Design: This element focuses on creating a multi-disciplinary care team. APNs can work with physicians, pharmacists, physical therapists, and mental health professionals to create an integrated care plan for each patient, moving beyond the sole use of opioids.
Decision Support: The model advocates for using evidence to guide clinical decisions. APNs can integrate clinical practice guidelines for chronic pain management into electronic health records, ensuring that providers have easy access to the latest research and best practices.
Clinical Information Systems: This element involves using technology to track and manage patient data. APNs can use these systems to monitor patient outcomes, track the use of different therapies, and identify patients who may be at risk for opioid misuse, allowing for timely intervention.
Sample Answer
Advanced practice nurses (APNs) play a vital role in providing comprehensive healthcare, but they often face challenges that impact patient care. One significant concern within advanced practice is the management of chronic pain, specifically the over-reliance on opioids for long-term treatment. This issue has led to a national crisis of addiction and overdose. The literature highlights that many patients with chronic pain are not receiving adequate or safe treatment, and providers often lack a structured framework for managing their care beyond medication.
Relevant Theory: The Chronic Care Model (CCM)
The Chronic Care Model (CCM) is a relevant framework for addressing the issue of chronic pain management. Developed by Dr. Edward Wagner and his colleagues, the CCM is an organizational framework designed to transform the daily care of patients with chronic diseases. It moves away from the traditional acute care model, which is ill-equipped for chronic conditions, and provides a structured approach for improving patient outcomes.