Pain Management and Opioid Use: Safe Prescribing and Monitoring

Learn evidence-based pain management to balance relief, safety, opioid alternatives, and nursing roles.

The opioid epidemic continues to impact individuals, families, and communities across the United States. As frontline caregivers, nurses play a vital role in pain assessment, medication administration, and patient education. This one-hour course equips nurses with the knowledge needed to promote effective and responsible pain management. It covers opioid pharmacology, safe prescribing and monitoring practices, risk identification, and alternative therapies. Nurses will also gain insight into legal and ethical considerations, state guidelines, and resources for patient support. This course fulfills requirements for opioid education in multiple states and is essential for nurses working in both acute and chronic care settings.

Course Outline

1. Introduction: Pain Management in the Era of the Opioid Crisis
2. Understanding Opioid Pharmacology and Pain Pathways
3. Pain Assessment and Individualized Treatment Planning
4. Safe Opioid Use: Prescribing, Monitoring, and Risk Mitigation
5. Non-Opioid and Multimodal Pain Management Strategies
6. Legal, Ethical, and Regulatory Considerations
7. Nursing Responsibilities and Patient Education
8. Review Questions and References

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the scope of the opioid epidemic and its impact on healthcare.
2. Explain the pharmacology of opioids and principles of pain physiology.
3. Apply evidence-based strategies for assessing and managing pain.
4. Identify best practices for prescribing, administering, and monitoring opioid therapy.
5. Discuss the role of non-opioid therapies in pain management.
6. Recognize legal and ethical responsibilities related to opioid use.
7. Provide effective patient education on pain relief and opioid safety.