Pace Alumna and Faculty Receive AJN 2021 Book of the Year Award

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Pace University's College of Health Professions and Lienhard School of Nursing Clinical Associate Professor Maureen Cooney published, Assessment and Multimodal Management of Pain: An Integrative Approach, which she co-authored with Ann Quinlan-Colwell from NC. This book was recognized by the American Journal of Nursing (AJN) for the 2021 Book of the Year Awards for Med-Surgical Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing. CHP's Dr. Elsa Wuhrman also contributed her expertise and knowledge to the book by writing a chapter.

Through her full-time position at a major medical center as a Pain Management Nurse Practitioner, Dr. Cooney is aware of the knowledge gap that exists among many health care providers in pain care for people across their lifespan. She says, "There is not enough time in any basic professional educational program to provide the depth of content necessary to address patients' needs. There are many misconceptions held by patients and health care providers that interfere with appropriate pain care. The purpose of this book is to provide a resource for all health care providers to aid in filling the gap."

The writing process was a challenging yet rewarding journey for Dr. Cooney. She not only learned more about herself but also about the importance of an integrative approach to pain care. An unexpected obstacle for Dr. Cooney was working on her typing skills. "I never should have skipped that typing class in high school!" She also discovered having an interprofessional approach to pain care as professionals from other disciplines, including physical and occupational therapies and pharmacists, contributed to the book.

Dr. Cooney is hopeful that this book will inspire her current and future students. "Pain is far more than a number on a 0-10 numeric rating scale, and pain management is far more complex than simple medication administration."

"Pain is far more than a number on a 0-10 numeric rating scale, and pain management is far more complex than simple medication administration." - Dr. Cooney

Her dream is to motivate and influence others to learn more about pain management and recognize that this is a deep and rich area of specialization for health care providers. "I also hope that my current and future students would recognize that when they find their passion, spending time and energy exploring that area of passion is not work; it is an opportunity for personal and professional fulfillment," expressed Dr. Cooney.

Dr. Cooney is a three-time Pace alum from the Lienhard School of Nursing, receiving a bachelor's and master's degree in nursing, and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Additionally, she completed the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Cooney has been an adjunct faculty member in the Lienhard School of Nursing for 25 years, and for the past 20 years she has taught and supervised students in the FNP program. Dr. Cooney and Dr. Wuhrman are also Clinical Co-Coordinators for the FNP program.

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Dr. Cooney acknowledged that Dr. Wurhman was most instrumental in encouraging her to specialize in pain management. In her chapter, Dr. Wurhman focused on helping students to, "Understand that, as the American Society for Pain Management purports: every nurse is a pain management nurse." She hopes that this book exemplifies that principle by enabling nurses to gain confidence and apply their knowledge to all patients.

Order a copy of Assessment and Multimodal Management of Pain