Responsible Opioid Prescribing, Chronic Pain, and Addiction

Responsible Opioid Prescribing, Chronic Pain, and Addiction is organized by Nurse.com - OnCourse Learning Corporation. This CME Conference has been approved for a maximum of 1.5 Contact Hours.

Course Originally Released on: 01/17/2014
Date of Most Recent Review: 12/31/2019
Course Termination/ Update Date: 12/31/2022

Course Description:
The increased emphasis on pain management to improve quality of life and functionality of people with chronic pain has contributed to a significant increase in the number of opioid prescriptions being written. With increased availability of prescription pain medicine, there has been a concurrent increase in risk of misuse and abuse. We are now in the midst of a paradigm shift in addressing pain due to an increase in opioid abuse that has reached epidemic proportions. We are now in the midst of a paradigm shift in addressing pain due to an increase in opioid abuse that has reached epidemic proportions. In 2016, more than 63,000 people died from drug overdoses; more than 42,000 of these involved prescription or illicit opioids.

Goal and Learning Outcomes:
The goal of this continuing education program is to provide nurses with information about best practices in the prescribing of controlled substances, including safe and effective prescribing, administering, and dispensing of controlled substances to the patient with chronic pain. After studying the information presented here, you will be able to:
After studying the information presented here, you will be able to:
• Review the regulatory factors associated with best-practice prescribing of controlled substances
• Describe components of patient evaluation and education necessary for a treatment plan that incorporates functional goals, assessment of addiction risk, and use of safety measures when controlled substances are prescribed
• Explain the purpose of prescription drug monitoring programs and how they work
• Discuss informed consent and treatment agreements
• Describe what to consider when setting up monitoring and evaluation