What a pain in the BACK!!!

Author

Sylvia De La Rosa, The University of Texas at El Paso

Date of Award

5-2024

Degree Type

DNP Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing (ND)

Department

Nursing

Chair

Hector R. Morales

Abstract

Background: After reviewing my 10-day Practice Assessment Log (PAL) and documenting a clinical needs assessment of my practice, I documented, reviewed, and reflected upon my findings. In my current practice we address low back pain with Gabapentin 300mg TID and Methocarbamol 500mg BID. The present outcome is that most patients do not experience much in relief.

Aims/Methods: My Practice Improvement Project (PIP), validated via research, points to adding Celebrex 100mg BID, an anti-inflammatory, to patient’s regimen. I carried out this project for 30 days with a 2-week follow-up. The Translational Framework Knowledge-to-Action model was used to help me prepare the implementation of my new found knowledge to my PIP. Using the PDSA QI model allowed for me to be able to achieve the implementation. At the start of the project, January 2024, I assessed patients with complaints of, diagnosis of low back pain and added Celebrex 100mg BID to their medication regimen (after ensuring there are no contra indications), this concluded to be 13 patients in total.

Results: After the 2-week follow up I found that three patients were not able to complete the prescribed regimen because the medication was too expensive or they stopped/did not take as indicated prior to follow up. Out of the ten patients that remained the data showed that 8 out of the 10 patient’s numeric rating scale (NRS) pain scores showed great improvement from scores collected at initial assessment.

Conclusions: The conclusion is then that adding Celebrex (NSAID) to patient’s medication regimen does indeed help to better control patient’s back pain. Implications for practice: This will allow for patient to have less days lost to not being able to perform tasks due to pain getting in the way of everyday activities that may include but not limited to house chores, exercise, work, school, family, and just personal hygiene.

Recommended Citation

De La Rosa, Sylvia, "What a pain in the BACK!!!" (2024). Cohort XII. 4.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/cohort_12/4