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Background.: The increased lifespan of individuals having sickle cell disease (SCD) causes an overall increase in hospitalizations and more instances in which pain may not be well controlled. Local problem.: The mainstay treatment for severe pain is opioids and the underlying cause. Laws affecting opioid prescribing, implicit bias, racial inequity, poor research funding, and lack of knowledge contribute to poor patient outcomes. Method.: Data were collected retrospectively using electronic medical record data from before and after the intervention. Intervention.: The individualized pain management plan (IPMP) was initiated in collaboration with the patient, pain nurse practitioner (NP), and hematologist. Result.: The mean length of stay for the traditional pain management plan (TPMP) was 7.89 days compared with 5.66 days for the IPMP, with a mean difference of 2.23 days, t = 2.278, p =.024 (p <.05). There was a decrease in the admission of the individuals with the IPMP, with 25% readmitted within 30 days of discharge, versus 59.0% who were readmitted using the TPMP. Chi-square showed statistical significance (χ2 = 61.667, p =.000) in using nonpharmacological interventions with the IPMP group. Conclusion.: The IPMP with a patient-centered approach did improve patient outcomes for African American adults living with SCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adequately preparing new graduate nurses for contemporary practice remains a challenge. This innovative mixed-method study explored the impact of a dedicated education unit on new graduate nurses' transition to practice. Results indicated that new graduate nurses with dedicated education unit experience were better prepared for contemporary practice compared to their peers with traditional clinical experiences. This study highlights the positive impact collaborative clinical teaching models can have on preparing new graduate nurses for practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]