Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Pain management is a vital component of post-operative nursing care. Orthopaedic patients in particular experience severe pain following surgical intervention. Since effective pain management is crucial in the post-operative recovery of orthopaedic patients, it was essential to explore the knowledge and clinical practice of nurses in orthopaedic wards. The aim of the study was to establish nurses’ knowledge and clinical practice for adult postoperative pain management of orthopaedic patients. A non-experimental, descriptive self-administered survey using a quantitative approach was applied. The total population of N=97 registered professional and enrolled nurses working in dedicated orthopaedic wards in two central hospitals in the Cape Town Metropole district, South Africa were invited to participate in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Reliability and validity was assured by means of a pilot study and consultation with nursing experts and a statistician. Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee of the University of Stellenbosch. Permission for access to the hospitals was obtained from the hospital and nursing managers. Informed written consent was obtained from the participants. The data was analysed by the statistician and presented in frequencies, tables and histograms. The variables were compared using either the Pearson chi-square test for differences in nursing category or the Mann-Whitney U-test for differences in years of experience. The analysis of the results illustrated knowledge deficits, inconsistent clinical practices and limited training in post-operative pain management. The recommendations include training courses, revision of the patient’s observation chart and formulation of policies and guidelines for pain management. Appropriate knowledge and clinical skills of nurses are critical to ensure optimal pain management for post-operative orthopaedic patients. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die bestuur van pyn is ’n essensiële component van post-operatiewe verpleegsorg. Ortopediese pasiënte ervaar spesifiek fel pyn na afloop van ’n chirugiese intervensie. Aangesien effektiewe pynbestuur belangrik in die post-operatiewe herstel van ortopediese pasiënte speel, was dit nodig om die kennis en kliniese praktyke van verpleegpersoneel in ortopediese sale te verken. Die doel van die studie was om verpleegpersoneel se kennis en kliniese ervaring van volwasse post-operatiewe pynbestuur van ortopediese pasiënte vas te stel. ’n Nie-eksperimentele, deskriptiewe, self-toegediende opname is toegepas wat gebruik maak van ’n kwantitatiewe benadering. Die totale populasie van 97 geregistreerde professionele en ingeskrewe verpleegkundiges wat in toegewyde ortopediese sale van twee sentrale hospitale in die Kaapstad Metropol distrik, Suid Afrika werk, is genooi om aan die studie deel te neem. ’n Gestruktureerde vraelys is gebruik om data in te samel. Betroubaarheid en geldigheid is verseker deur middel van ’n voortoets en konsultasie met verpleegkundige kenners en ’n statistikus. Etiese goedkeuring is verkry van die Gesondheidsnavorsing Etiese Komitee van die Universiteit Stellenbosch. Toestemming om toegang tot die hospitale te kry is verkry van die hospitaal en verpleegbestuurders. Ingeligte, geskrewe toestemming is van die deelnemers verkry. Die data is geanaliseer deur die statistikus en is aangebied in frekwensietabelle en histogramme. Die veranderlikes is vergelyk deur of die Pearson chi-vierkant toets te doen vir verskille in verpleegkategorieë, of die Mann-Whitney U-toets vir verskille in jare ervaring. Die analise van die resultate het kennistekorte, teenstrydige kliniese praktyke en beperkte opleiding in post-operatiewe pynbestuur uitgewys. Die aanbevelings sluit opleidingskursusse, hersiening van pasiënte se waarnemingsgrafiek en die formulering van beleid en riglyne vir pynbestuur in. Toepaslike kennis en kliniese vaardighede van verpleegpersoneel is krities om optimale pynbestuur vir post-operatiewe ortopediese pasiënte te verseker.