Opioid and Pain Management

Course overview

Malibu CEU - Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #18091, for 3 contact hours. Pain management is a cornerstone of quality nursing care, but in the era of the opioid crisis, clinicians are caught between the need to treat suffering and the need to prevent harm. This course explores the clinical, ethical, and regulatory landscape of opioid prescribing and pain care. Participants will examine best practices in pain assessment, equitable access to relief, multimodal treatment strategies, and risk mitigation approaches for controlled substances. It also covers nurse responsibilities in educating patients, preventing diversion, and supporting vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by both under-treatment of pain and opioid misuse. This course is designed for RNs and APRNs in both acute and outpatient settings. It includes case studies, reflection prompts, and policy guidance to help nurses navigate real-world decisions around opioids and pain management with confidence, compassion, and clinical integrity.