Course Description
Pain assessment and management is a crucial part of compassionate and effective patient care. Healthcare providers must be more accurate with their pain assessment skills and more effective in their pain management strategies. Scientific advancements in the understanding of the mechanisms of pain, multidisciplinary methods of assessment and management, the wide array of integrative treatment strategies, and the improvement of medications to treat pain have contributed to the wealth of knowledge in this area.
Courses Included
Pain Theory and Assessment Principles
Pain is a universal phenomenon and its accurate and timely assessment is crucial in the comprehensive care of every patient. Pain is a subjective concept and is whatever the client says it is. Experienced across all age groups, across all socioeconomic levels, and in all settings, pain exists within the context of a culture, as well as within personal, physical, and psychological history. Pain and the search for relief is one of the primary reasons a client accesses the healthcare system. It is also one of the most complex and challenging problems in health care and biology.
Pain Interventions and Treatments
Effective pain management begins with effective pain assessment. Only after an assessment is completed can the healthcare provider determine how to best manage a client’s pain. Barriers to pain management that can lead to the undertreatment of pain need to be evaluated and, if relevant, addressed appropriately. Once an assessment is completed, interventions and treatment options are implemented and evaluated. Interventions and treatment options can include traditional pharmaceutical options as well as integrative therapies.
Pain Management in Special Populations – Surgery, Cancer, and HIV
Healthcare professionals often face difficult challenges when working with clients who have undergone surgery or who have cancer or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These clients encounter unique problems with their health conditions, especially when trying to manage their pain.
Pain Management in the Adult – Acute and Chronic Pain
Acute and chronic pain in the adult client have different causes, methods of diagnoses, and interventions. Effective healthcare providers understand these differences when they assess and manage their clients’ pain.
Pain Management in Special Populations – Children and the Elderly
Helping pediatric and geriatric populations manage their pain requires special consideration regarding the types of medications and strategies chosen, the route through which medications are delivered, and specific comorbidities or metabolic issues that may be present.
Pain Treatment at the End of Life
Regardless of the cause, pain is a common symptom in clients who are near death. Healthcare providers must understand the tremendous implications of pain and pain symptoms and prioritize the assessment and optimal treatment of pain in clients near the end of life. They must be knowledgeable about alternative routes for analgesia and analgesic dosing and understand when to make referrals to palliative care providers and/or specialists to assist in the compassionate and effective management of pain during this time.
Integrative Therapies for Cancer Pain Management
Many advances have been made in the treatment of cancer during the last several decades and yet effective cancer pain management remains an overwhelming issue for the majority of patients. Today, there are numerous options for cancer pain management, ranging from more traditional pharmacological treatments to integrative therapies, including complementary and alternative modalities. Increasingly, research links adequate pain control with improved survival for patients with cancer. The effective treatment of pain for cancer patients must include an examination of all possible treatment modalities in order to ensure the patient receives the most compassionate care available.
Purpose / Goal
The outcome of this certificate program is for the learner to describe key elements related to pain assessment and management, especially in specific populations.
Certificate Objectives
Upon completion you will be able to do the following:
- Describe various pain theories and assessment principles.
- Compare and contrast specific pain interventions and treatments.
- Explain the differences between acute and chronic pain.
- Discuss specific pain management issues in surgical, cancer, and HIV patients.
- Discuss specific pain management issues in children and the elderly.
- Describe the unique pain assessment and management issues at the end of life.
- Describe integrative therapies for cancer pain assessment and management.
Course Content
Target Audience
Nurses, health care professionals, and interested individuals.
Criteria for Successful Completion
Complete the course post exam (CE Test) with a score of 80% or greater. Complete all fields of the course Evaluation Form.
Certificate of Completion is provided for individual courses once the course post exam is passed per criteria above.
Certificate of Completion is provided for certificate programs once all of the courses within the certificate program have been successfully completed per criteria above.
Practice Level (For Occupational Therapy Only): Intermediate
Content Focus (For Occupational Therapy Only): Professional Issues
Commercial Support
No commercial support has been received for this activity.
- Advance Practice
- Community Health
- Complementary and Alternative Health
- Cultural Competency
- Gerontology
- Holistic Health
- Home Health
- Hospice
- Integrative Health
- Med/Surg
- Oncology
- Pain Management
- Palliative Care
- Pediatrics
- Spirituality
- Women's Health
- Acupuncture
- Addiction Specialists
- Fitness
- Health Education
- Massage Therapy
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy
- Other
- Physical Therapy
- Psychology
American Board of Managed Care Nursing - The American Board of Managed Care Nursing recognizes all of ALLEGRA Learning Solutions' ANCC accredited courses for continuing education credit for Certified Managed Care Nurses (CMCNs).
ANCC - American Nurses Credentialing Center - ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
ASWB - Association of Social Work Boards - This course is approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program to be offered by ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC as an individual course. Individual courses, not providers, are approved at the course level. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. ACE course approval period: 04/22/2024-04/22/2027. Social workers completing this course receive the specified distance learning continuing education credits.
California Board of Registered Nurses - Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider # CEP 14693 for the number of hours stated.
California Department of Health, Aid, and Technician Certification Section - The California Department of Health, Aid, and Technician Certification Section accepts continuing education offered by CA-BRN approved providers.
District of Columbia Board of Nursing - ALLEGRA Learning Solutions (CE Provider # 50-12076) submits all continuing education records to CE BROKER after successful completion.
Florida Board of Massage Therapy - ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
Florida Board of Nursing - ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC is accredited as a provider of continuing education by the Florida Board of nursing (CE Provider # 50-12076).
Courses are automatically submitted to CE Broker.
Florida Board of Nursing—Certified Nursing Assistants - ALLEGRA Learning Solutions (CE Broker Provider # 50-12076) submits all continuing education records to CE Broker after successful completion.
Florida Board of Respiratory Care - ALLEGRA Learning Solutions (CE Broker Provider # 50-12076) submits all continuing education records to CE Broker after successful completion.
Florida Council of Dietetics and Nutrition - ALLEGRA Learning Solutions (CE Broker Provider # 50-12076) submits all continuing education records to CE Broker after successful completion.
Florida Council of Licensed Midwifery - ALLEGRA Learning Solutions (CE Broker Provider # 50-12076) submits all continuing education records to CE Broker after successful completion.
NAADAC - The National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors - ALLEGRA Learning is an approved provider with the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) (Provider #813).
NCBTMB -National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork - ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education Approved Provider. Provider Number 451562-11.
This course fulfills nursing continuing education requirements in the following state(s):
- All States
- Michigan
- Oregon
- West Virginia
Jurisdictional Requirements
Continuing education (CE) licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction, are not well defined, and may change. These CE requirements may vary in terms of the number of hours required to the types of courses that must be taken. ALLEGRA Learning Solutions recommends you contact your licensing board or accrediting organization for the latest continuing education requirements of your state or territory. Compliance with CE requirements is the responsibility of the individual health care provider. Health care providers must understand the CE requirements in their jurisdictions, and be sure they are up-to-date on any rule changes that affect their license. For further information, please see our Accreditation information page.
Accommodations for Disabilities
Every effort will be made to accommodate your special needs. To request accommodations, please contact ALLEGRA Learning Solutions at allegra@allegralearning.com
Conflicts of Interest and Relevant Financial Relationships
No one in a position to control content has conflicts of interests or relevant financial relationships to declare for this activity.
Non-endorsement of Products
Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing nursing education only and does not imply ALLEGRA approval or endorsement of any commercial product.
Off-label Use of Products
None of the authors intend to discuss off-label uses of drugs, mechanical devices, biologics, or diagnostics not approved by the FDA for use in the United States.
Instructors
Cyndie Koopsen, RN, BSN, MBA, HNB-BC, RN-BC, HWNC-BC
Caroline Young, MPH
Expiration Date
June 1, 2026
Best Practices
ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC is committed to the development of education programs with the highest quality content. We have a financial interest in the courses we provide. We adhere to strict quality processes in our course creation and delivery. Each course is rigorously researched, peer-reviewed by an external entity, unbiased, and developed to provide current, professionally-relevant, evidence-based materials. We comply with all applicable local, regional, state, and/or national laws and regulations. Integrity, maintaining and exceeding accreditation standards, and the use of ethical, sound business principles are also basic tenets of our philosophy. Images are for illustrative purposes only. Persons depicted are models. The stock photography company retains all model releases.
Course Includes
- 7 Lessons
- 8 Tests
- Course Certificate
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