[Development of pain resource nurses: towards a national cooperation protocol]

Abstract

Improving access to specialized pain management centers for the 20% of French people suffering from chronic pain is a major challenge for our healthcare system. Less than 3% of these people receive appropriate care in one of the Chronic Pain Centers (SDC) in France. The current care offer is therefore not sufficient despite the constant increase in the number of SDC. Recognition of the expertise of Pain Resource Nurses (IRD) working in these structures and the delegation of protocolized activities would be one possible response to improve access to care and the quality of care for chronic pain patients by freeing up medical time for the care of new patients.

Keywords: chronic structure pain; cooperation protocol; delegation of activity; délégation d’activité; infirmier ressource douleur; pain resource nurse; professional development; protocole de coopération; structure douleur chronique; évolution professionnelle.