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CE: Implementing Guidelines for Treating Chronic Pain with Prescription Opioids
Patricia E Maloy1, Megan O Iacocca, Benjamin J Morasco
1Patricia E. Maloy is a nurse care manager at the VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, where Benjamin J. Morasco is principal investigator and, at the time of this writing, Megan O. Iacocca was a clinical research associate. Iacocca is currently a research associate at Kaiser Permanente in Portland. Contact author: Patricia E. Maloy, patricia.maloy3@va.gov. This work was supported by award No. 1I01HX001583 from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Health Services Research and Development Service, and resources from the VA Health Services Research and Development-funded Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care at the VA Portland Health Care System (CIN 13-404). The authors and planners have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise. The content of this article is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not represent the official views of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Primary care nurses can enhance opioid safety by using five Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guideline tools. These strategies help manage chronic pain patients on opioid therapy and mitigate risks associated with opioid misuse.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management
- Public Health
- Nursing Practice
Background:
- Chronic pain affects 43% of US adults, often treated with opioids.
- Opioid misuse and overdose deaths remain a significant public health concern.
- Nurses play an increasing role in implementing opioid safety measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss five key tools from the CDC guideline for promoting opioid safety.
- To empower primary care nurses in managing patients on chronic opioid therapy.
- To reduce risks associated with long-term opioid use.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing prescription opioid treatment agreements.
- Implementing urine drug screening.
- Leveraging prescription drug monitoring program databases.
- Calculating morphine milligram equivalents.
- Providing naloxone kits.
Main Results:
- The discussed tools are integral to the CDC's opioid prescribing guideline.
- These tools offer practical strategies for nurses to enhance patient safety.
- Effective implementation can mitigate risks of opioid misuse and overdose.
Conclusions:
- Primary care nurses are crucial in promoting opioid safety.
- The five CDC-recommended tools are essential for safe opioid therapy management.
- Adherence to these tools can improve patient outcomes and public health.