The Role of Opioids in the Treatment of Chronic Pain

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About the Course:
This continuing education program is designed to characterize the best practices for the use of prescription opioid medications intended for treating chronic pain, within the constraints emphasized by the FDA. It will also characterize other strategies to combat the misuse of prescription medications. This program will provide nurses with a solid foundation for responsible opioid use and include vigilant monitoring designed to identify misuse.

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, nurses will be able to:

• Describe how to assess patients for opioid therapy
• Discuss the use of written patient/provider opioid agreements and informed consent
• Explain the value of function-based treatment goals over pain-relief goals
• Describe the opioid choices available and how to initiate and maintain patients on opioids
• Explain how to manage non-adherent patients and discontinue opioid therapy
• Explain why methadone must be used with particular caution
• Describe the safe storage and disposal of opioids
• Discuss how to recognize and treat opioid overdose

About the Author
Katie Blair, PharmD, RPh, is a pharmacist and freelance writer specializing in pharmacy education. She works as a consultant pharmacist in Vancouver, Washington, serving long-term care facilities in the area. She also has over 6 years of experience working as a staff pharmacist at a community pharmacy in Seattle. She graduated from Northeastern University in Boston in 2009 with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. 

How to Receive Credit:

• Read the entire course online or in print, which requires a 3-hour commitment of time.
• Complete the Self-Assessment Quiz Questions either integrated throughout or all at the end of the course.
  • These questions are NOT GRADED. The questions are included to help affirm what you have learned from the course.
  • The correct answer is shown after the question is answered. If the incorrect answer is selected, a Rationale for the correct answer is provided.  
• At the end of the course, answer the Yes/No Affirmation question to indicate that you have completed the educational activity.
• Specific to Florida: A mandatory Final Examination with a passing score of 70% or higher is required. Exam questions link content to the course Learning Objectives as a method to enhance individualized learning and material retention.
• If requested, provide required personal and payment information.
• Complete the mandatory Nursing Course Evaluation.
• Print your Certificate of Completion.

Disclosures:
Katie Blair, PharmD, RPh, has disclosed she does not have a financial relationship with ineligible companies. Planners, faculty, and others in control of content (either individually or as a group) have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Sponsorship/Commercial Support and Non-Endorsement
It is the policy of Colibri Healthcare, LLC not to accept commercial support. Furthermore, commercial interests are prohibited from distributing or providing access to this activity to learners.

Disclaimer
The information provided in this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition
©2022: All Rights Reserved. Materials may not be reproduced without the expressed written permission or consent of Colibri Healthcare, LLC. The materials presented in this course are meant to provide the consumer with general information on the topics covered. The information provided was prepared by professionals with practical knowledge of the areas covered. It is not meant to provide medical, legal, or professional advice. Elite Healthcare Professional Education, LLC recommends that you consult a medical, legal, or professional services expert licensed in your state. Colibri Healthcare, LLC has made all reasonable efforts to ensure that all content provided in this course is accurate and up-to-date at the time of printing but does not represent or warrant that it will apply to your situation nor circumstances and assumes no liability from reliance on these materials. Quotes are collected from customer feedback surveys. The models are intended to be representative and not actual customers.

Course Verification
Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that the content in this course is balanced and unbiased.