PAIN MANAGEMENT: AN OVERVIEW

Course overview

Pain is a noxious sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage resulting from stimulation of peripheral pain receptors (i.e., nociceptors) by trauma and a variety of disorders, diagnostic tests, or treatments. Acute pain is defined as pain lasting less than 4 weeks. Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting longer than 12 weeks. This continuing education module is designed to give the reader/learner an increased understanding of pain and pain management, including its signs, symptoms, subjective experience of pain, and treatment, and to aid in caring for the patient with this diagnosis. Readers may explore any or all of the topics. One contact hour of continuing education credit is available for those who successfully complete the post-test and evaluation form.