Chaired by Dr Barbara Stuttle CBE Chair of the Association of Prescribers this important national conference provides an essential update for current and aspiring nurse prescribers on prescribing for pain. Pain is a growing area of nurse prescribing and one of the most common areas, in a 2010 survey of the Association for Prescribers members 50% of members prescribed for pain (Karen Stenner, University of Surrey). This make it essential that nurse prescribers maintain the competence and skills to prescribe for pain in an effective way, working with patients to improve pain outcomes.