- Description
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Details
This comprehensive CE course is designed for nursing professionals seeking to enhance their clinical knowledge and application of pharmacologic strategies for pain management. Covering both acute and chronic pain scenarios, the course explores a range of medications, their mechanisms of action, potential side effects, and associated risks, including dependency and adverse drug interactions. Nurses are encouraged to enroll to strengthen their role in safe, evidence-based pain management, improve patient comfort, and ensure adherence to regulatory standards and ethical prescribing practices.
Participants will examine the pharmacologic classification of analgesics, including non-opioid, opioid, and adjuvant therapies, and their appropriate use across diverse clinical conditions. The course emphasizes individualized pain management planning, risk mitigation strategies, and monitoring protocols. Special attention is given to vulnerable populations such as the elderly, pediatric patients, and individuals with a history of substance use disorder. Regulatory considerations, including DEA scheduling and controlled substance policies, are discussed to support safe prescribing and administration practices.
The course also addresses current controversies and public health concerns related to opioid use, emphasizing the importance of balancing effective pain control with the potential for misuse, tolerance, and addiction. Nurses will learn to identify red flags for drug-seeking behavior, apply screening tools, and collaborate with inter-professional teams to implement multi-modal pain management strategies. Patient advocacy, documentation, and ongoing assessment form the foundation of the content, ensuring participants leave with actionable insights that promote optimal outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify pharmacologic options for managing various types of pain.
- Describe the mechanisms of action, indications, contraindications, and side effects of common analgesics.
- Discuss the risks and benefits of opioid and non-opioid medications in clinical practice.
- Implement evidence-based strategies to prevent medication misuse, dependence, and adverse effects.
- Evaluate appropriate pain assessment tools and documentation practices.
- Understand legal, ethical, and regulatory responsibilities surrounding controlled substances.
Course Completion Requirements:
To complete this CE course and receive full credit, participants must:
- Register for the course.
- Review all course materials.
- Complete the post-test with a passing score of 70% or higher.
- Submit the course evaluation survey.
Note: Some courses may include additional requirements, such as participation in discussion boards or completion of practice exercises.
Important Disclosures:
- Conflict of Interest: The course planners, authors, and presenters have no financial or commercial conflicts of interest related to this educational activity.
- Commercial Support: This course has not received any sponsorship or financial support from commercial entities.
- Non-Endorsement: Approval of this course as a continuing education activity does not imply endorsement of any products, services, or companies mentioned within the content.
- Off-Label Product Use: No information related to off-label use of FDA-approved products is included in this course.
Key Course Benefits:
- Offers 3 CE credit hours with a strong focus on clinical safety and efficacy.
- Addresses current standards for pharmacologic pain management across patient populations.
- Equips nurses to assess pain, administer medications safely, and minimize risks.
- Includes regulatory guidance on opioid prescribing, documentation, and accountability.
- Applicable for LPNs, RNs, CNSs, and ARNPs in all clinical environments.
- Delivered through a flexible, user-friendly online platform.
Approvals and Accreditation:
The CE Learning Network (CELN) is an accredited provider of continuing education for nurses, recognized by the Florida Board of Nursing and the District of Columbia Board of Nursing.
This course adheres to the standards established by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
Approved for the following nursing professionals:
- Florida Board of Nursing: LPNs, RNs, CNSs, ARNPs
- District of Columbia Board of Nursing: RNs, Nurse Anesthetists, CNSs, Midwives, ARNPs
For added convenience, CELN automatically reports earned CE hours to CEBroker.com on behalf of participants