Hello reader!
Welcome to this informative blog about the Pain Management Nurse career.
Sports injuries, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and fibromyalgia are usually the most common causes of pain that Pain Management Nurses help patients deal with.
After reading this article, you will understand who a Pain Management Nurse is and all the key aspects of this nursing specialty.
In this article, we will cover the following:
- What is a Pain Management Nurse?
- Pain Management Nurse Skills And Qualities
- Pain Management Nurses Job Description
- Pain Management Nurse Salary And Job Outlook
- Pain Management Nurses Organizations, Societies & Agencies
Let’s get to know more about Pain Management Nurses!
Introduction
Pain Management Nurses help millions of patients living with pain in the United States live better and more fulfilling lives.
Most patients who need pain management therapy suffer from different pain levels.
Back pain and headaches are common types of pain.
The pain could either be acute pain or chronic pain, and this Nurse will do a pain assessment on the patient to tell which pain they are suffering from.
They will then develop the appropriate pain relief measure to carry out.
What Is A Pain Management Nurse?
Pain Management Nurses are RNs specializing in caring for patients suffering from chronic or debilitating pain.
Thanks to their acquired pain nursing education, these Nurses are skilled in effective pain management techniques.
According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine data, millions of people nationwide having a substance use disorder have an opioid use disorder stemming from prescription pain medication.
ASAM declared an epidemic from these numbers, which resulted in healthcare providers coming up with alternatives for safe and effective pain management options like acupuncture, vitamin therapy, stress relaxation practices like yoga, etc., chiropractic medicine, spinal blocks, botox injections, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS) units, exercise or diet changes and so on.
When the American Nurses Association finally ranked pain management as a real nursing specialty in 2005, Registered Nurses began acquiring Pain Management Certification to equip them with skills to help patients suffering from various pain conditions.
Pain Management Nurse Skills And Qualities
The Nurse must have a nursing degree (BSN), undergo a training program, pass the NCLEX-RN exam, and gain an RN license before earning the Pain Management Nurse Certification.
Registered Nurses holding appropriate qualifications can acquire the Pain Professional credential.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center working together with the American Society for Pain Management Nursing awards Pain Management Board Certification to Registered Nurses.
Just make sure that as a candidate, you already have 2000hours of experience focusing on pain management which is similar to a year of full-time work that covers a period of three years.
Ensure that you have also accumulated at least 15 hours of continuing education that is pain-specific during the past three years and passed that certification exam to qualify.
Once you are certified as a Pain Management Nurse, you will have the right skills to handle the following conditions:
- Fibromyalgia
- Nerve/spinal injuries
- Stroke pain
- Radiculopathy
- Status post motor vehicle accidents
- Degenerative disc disease
- Cancer pain
- Diabetic nerve pain
- Chronic Headaches
As a Pain Management Nurse, you must have years of experience before pursuing an MSN.
This nursing specialty requires in-depth knowledge of the field coupled with interpersonal skills.
Nurses must relate to patients and help them determine the severity and type of pain they are experiencing, and develop the best way to control it.
Commonly, patients in pain are usually difficult to manage.
For that reason, Pain Management Nurses must exhibit patience, compassion, and empathy on top of their technical skills for them to effectively carry out their roles in handling a patient’s pain.
Pain Management Nurses Job Description
Pain Management Nurses work in various healthcare settings.
With more healthcare providers battling the substance use problem, there has been increased use of alternative pain management techniques.
You will find Pain Management Nurses working in hospitals, private medical offices, oncology centers, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, and sports medicine facilities.
These Nurses must assess patients and determine the severity and the underlying causes of their pain.
They might often carry out physical examinations and discuss symptoms with these clients.
The medical history of the patients and diagnostics tests like x-rays must also be conducted.
But the biggest and major task that these Pain Management Nurses have is managing and easing their patients’ pain.
They must recommend the best practices and prescribe strong and effective pain-relieving medications that are also safe for the patient.
It is not unusual to find patients developing addictions stemming from narcotic pain medications.
This has resulted in increased help problems, and this is where a Pain Management Nurse will step in and help introduce alternative pain management techniques to such patients.
Pain Management Nurses carry out the assessment of a patient’s care needs, the implementation of a treatment plan followed by a response evaluation.
Therefore they will do as follows on a working day:
- Administering pain medications through various routes such as intravenous, intrathecal, or intramuscular
- Monitoring patients who are conscious
- Helping patients recover after a sedation process
- Reviewing medical records
- Assisting physicians with pain management techniques
Generally, these Nurses who specialize in pain management contribute greatly to a patient’s recovery from ailments or injuries, chronic illness management, and a better quality of life for patients.
This is why the responsibilities that come with this nursing role will comprise the following:
- Collaborate with physicians to come up with the best care plan
- Assess individual medical and psychosocial patient care needs
- Helping in treatment implementations
- Evaluation and documentation of pain nursing interventions and the patient responsiveness to them
- Informing patients and their loved ones about the available treatments to enable them to choose the appropriate treatment options
- Having patience and compassion toward patients experiencing pain
Pain Management Nurse Salary And Job Outlook
Nursing is one of the fastest-growing occupations countrywide.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projections, the Nurse Practitioner jobs will have more than 20% growth by 2030.
This is, of course, faster than the average rate for most occupations in the U.S.
Even though the Bureau of Labor Statistics has only data for the general nursing positions and no specific data on Pain Management Nurses, the great demand for nurses in the coming years indicates numerous career opportunities for the Pain Management Nurse.
With Pain Management Nurses earning an average salary of $101,295, this is a Nurse specialty worth pursuing.
The salary of these pain management RN jobs will vary depending on the city and state of residence and employment, certifications and degrees held, and who the employer is.
So if you want to capitalize on the rising demand for Nurse Practitioners, find out the steps on how to become a Pain Management Nurse, acquire the necessary qualifications and pursue this rewarding specialty by applying for the Pain Management Nurse jobs out there.
Pain Management Nurses Organizations, Societies & Agencies
As a Pain Management Nurse, you can join the various organizations whose memberships come with numerous perks to boost nursing careers.
Some associations offer members discount opportunities for certification exams and continuing education opportunities for members interested in pursuing an advanced course.
They also offer discounts on pain management journal subscriptions, access to helpful webinars, discounted tuition rates in certain institutions, and professional credibility as a Pain Nurse.
Some of the associations that Pain Management Nurses join are as follows:
- American Society for Pain Management(ASPMN)
- International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
- American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM)
- American Pain Society (APS)
- American Chronic Pain Association
- The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA)
Conclusion
A Pain Management Nurse is an important professional because of their vital role in helping patients in pain.
We have looked at the qualities, skills, job outlook, and helpful societies and organizations that can positively contribute to this exceptional nursing specialty.
There is no doubt about the importance of pain management in nursing, so equipping yourself with the skills to carry out comprehensive pain assessments and apply the best nursing pain management techniques to every patient case will make you an important professional in most healthcare facilities countrywide.
FAQs
What is Pain Management in nursing?
This is the effective handling of a patient’s pain by a Pain Management Nurse through assessment, intervention, and patient advocacy. It can also involve non-pharmacological interventions such as acupuncture and other similar practices geared towards controlling a patient’s identified pain.
Can District Nurses help with pain management?
Yes, they can. When an increasing number of people live with multiple and complex long-term pain conditions, the District Nurses can coordinate and manage care for these patients. This entails prescribing the proper medications to ensure adequate pain management as they battle their medical conditions.
What does a Pain Management Nurse do?
This Nurse is in charge of the care of patients suffering from chronic or acute pain. After assessing a patient’s pain, they collaborate with Doctors and other Nurses to create the best treatment plan. This Nurse then administers medications for pain relief.
What is a Pain Management Nurse?
This is the Nurse with a Pain Management Certification equipped with skills to assess a patient’s pain which involves physical examination, then works with the Physicians and other Nurses to create the best treatment plan and administer the proper medication.
Why is pain management important?
Pain affects daily living activities, and one of the significant goals of pain management is to reduce its effect on a patient’s bodily functions and improve quality of life. The restored ability to carry out daily living activities minus the pain and adequate sleep make pain management very important.
How much does a Pain Management Nurse make a year?
A Pain Management Nurse makes $104,307 annually. However, factors such as location, certifications acquired, level of education, years of experience, and the employer will impact the salary of a Pain Management Nurse. Still, this nursing specialty consistently ranks as one of the top-paying nursing jobs.
How do I get certified in pain management?
You can get certified through the Pain Management Certification offered by the ANCC Pain Management Nursing board. The certification exam will assess your knowledge and skills related to pain management nursing. This certification can be renewed after five years which is the only way to keep it updated.
How long does it take to be a Pain Management Nurse?
The time will always depend on whether you have an RN license; it will take you six years if you don’t. You must have practiced actively as an RN for two years. Cover at least 2000 hours of experience three years before applying for this certification and taking the exam.
