Opioid analgesics: nurses' knowledge of doses and psychological dependence

Lack of education of health professionals, including nurses, is frequently cited as a major reason for undertreatment of pain. Very recent surveys have revealed an urgent need for basic and continuing nursing education to address this problem. For example, little time is spent on the topic of pain in many baccalaureate nursing programs, nursing textbooks lack correct information about opioid addiction, and most practicing nurses currently do not possess knowledge about opioid analgesics that would enable them to administer opioids effectively. The authors report on a survey of 1,781 practicing nurses' specific knowledge deficits regarding opioid analgesics and propose some solutions.