Educating Nursing Students About Chronic Pain Management and Opioids

Abstract

Abstract Background Healthcare professionals' knowledge of safe use of opioids for chronic pain management is critical in preventing opioid abuse and overdose. Undergraduate curricula of health professional schools, including undergraduate nursing programs, need to improve and adopt a comprehensive educational plan regarding this issue. Method This study implemented and assessed an educational module on undergraduate nursing students' knowledge and attitudes regarding prescription opioids. Results The educational module improved nursing students' knowledge and attitudes. Students reflected positively on the module. Conclusion Undergraduate nursing students benefited from the educational module on prescription opioids and preferred to include a similar module in their undergraduate curricula.