Issues Concerning the Prescribing of Opioids

Course overview

The course provides 1.0 hour of continuing education for professionals, incorporating media-based video lectures and lesson tests in curricular modules. This course provides nursing professionals with the tools to identify patients who may benefit from opioid therapy and those at higher risk for dependence, tolerance, and addiction. After completing this program, the nurse will be able to assess a patient for risk factors concerning opioid misuse, identify opioid misuse, and provide patients with education regarding opioid use. Other learning objective include identifying types of chronic pain and how that has caused the opioid crisis in the United States, define the mechanism of action and possible side effects of opioids, utilize other pain management modalities prior to considering opioid use, and be able to monitor a patient effectively while on opioid therapy.