Nurses' attitudes and practices in sickle cell pain management.

Professional objectivity should be the primary focus of patient care. Health care professionals are at times reluctant to give opioids out of fear that patients may become addicted, which would result in the undertreatment of pain. The influence of nurses' attitudes on the management of sickle cell pain was studied. The variables of age, education, area of practice, and years of active experience were considered. Of the respondents, 63% believed addiction was prevalent, and 30% were hesitant to administer high-dose opioids. Study findings suggest that nurses would benefit from additional education on sickle cell disease, pain assessment and management, and addiction. Educational recommendations are discussed. Copyright 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company