CE: Implementing Guidelines for Treating Chronic Pain with Prescription Opioids.

CE: Implementing Guidelines for Treating Chronic Pain with Prescription Opioids. Am J Nurs. 2019 Nov;119(11):22-29 Authors: Maloy PE, Iacocca MO, Morasco BJ Abstract Chronic pain, stemming primarily from musculoskeletal conditions and severe headaches, is a growing problem in the United States, affecting as many as 43% of adults. Opioids are frequently prescribed to manage chronic pain despite limited data on their long-term efficacy and the potential risks of long-term use. In 2017, more than 47,000 people died as a result of an opioid overdose involving illicit opioids (such as heroin), illicitly manufactured opioids, diverted opioids, prescription opioids, or some combination thereof. Although it's been more than three years since the nationwide opioid crisis prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to release a guideline outlining safe practices for prescribing opioids to patients with chronic pain (unrelated to active cancer or palliative and end-of-life care), opioid misuse remains a significant concern. Historically, physicians have been tasked with the primary responsibility for implementing opioid safety measures, but nurses in the primary care setting are being increasingly relied on to incorporate these measures as part of their practice. In this article, we discuss the use of five tools outlined in the CDC guideline: prescription opioid treatment agreements, urine drug screening, prescription drug mon...
Source: The American Journal of Nursing - Category: Nursing Authors: Tags: Am J Nurs Source Type: research