Date of Award


Degree Type


Degree Name

Nursing (M.S.N.)


College of Nursing

First Advisor

E. Droste-Bielak

Second Advisor

L. Bond

Third Advisor

B. Curry


This replication study was designed to compare emergency and medical/surgical registered nurses' actual and perceived knowledge of the pharmacological and nonpharmacological aspects of pain and its management. A modification of the original tool that consisted of a combination of multiple choice, short answer and open-ended questions was utilized. A convenience sample representing beginner and expert medical/surgical and emergency nurses was obtained.; No difference was found between specialty or experience and current pain knowledge. All participants functioned at a similar level. Participants were unable to describe basic terms related to current pain theory and therapy. The only significant difference identified between participants' pain knowledge was that emergency nurses displayed a better understanding of morphine. Participants identified a need for further knowledge of pain and felt it should be provided by the employer's inservice education department. This study supported the findings of the original investigation.

