What Is a Pain Management Nurse?
Imagine living with pain every day. Unfortunately, an estimated 50 million Americans don’t have to imagine this – they live with it every day. Their pain makes it difficult, and sometimes impossible, to lead productive personal and professional lives. Nurses that specialize in pain management help millions of patients live active and fulfilling lives.
Patients seeking pain management therapy suffer from varying degrees of pain. Some patients, for instance, experience mild to moderate pain constantly; others, however, may experience severe pain periodically. Headaches and back pain are the most common types of pain. Sports injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, and fibromyalgia are among the most common causes of different types of pain.
Pain management nurses also care for patients who are suffering from both acute and chronic pain. Acute pain is a type of pain that comes on suddenly and has a specific cause, usually an injury. The cause of chronic pain, on the other hand, may or may not be known, and it may linger long after an injury has healed. Acute pain is also somewhat sharp, whereas chronic pain may be more of an ache and be accompanied by other symptoms, such as muscle tension, lethargy, and depression.
What Do Pain Management Nurses Do?
Pain management nurses assess patients to determine the severity and causes of their pain. To do this, they will often physically examine patients and discuss their symptoms. Pain management nurses will also usually examine their patients’ medical histories and perform diagnostic tests, such as x-rays.
Helping patients ease and manage their pain, however, is a pain management nurse’s biggest task. Today, patients in severe pain have the luxury of taking strong and effective pain-relieving medications. Pain management nurses are typically responsible for administering these medications and teaching patients how to take these medications safely.
Because many narcotic pain medications are habit-forming and can cause additional health problems, pain management nurses also try to help patients by introducing them to alternative pain management techniques. Some of these techniques may include biofeedback, acupuncture, massage, and therapeutic exercises.
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Where Do Pain Management Nurses Work?
As a pain management nurse, you can often find employment in a few different healthcare facilities. Some of the most common employers include hospitals, clinics, and physician offices. However, you may also be able to find employment in rehabilitation centers and sometimes even fitness centers.
How to Become a Pain Management Nurse
The majority of pain management nurses start their careers with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This degree teaches the fundamentals of nursing and enables nursing students to concentrate their studies in specific areas, like pain management. Once you’ve earned your degree, you will need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination to obtain your licensure as a registered nurse.
You can also obtain certification in pain management through the American Society for Pain Management Nursing. To be eligible to sit for the certification examination, you must have at least two years of experience as a registered nurse. You must also have 2,000 hours of experience in pain management and 30 hours of continuing nursing education, with half of those hours being related to pain management.
Helpful Organizations for Pain Management Nurses
- American Society for Pain Management Nursing (ASPMN)
- The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA)
- American Pain Society (APS)
- International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
- The American Academy of Pain Management
- American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM)
- American Chronic Pain Association
Pain Management Nurse FAQ
Per Indeed.com, Pain Management Nurses make $104,307. There are factors that impact salary such as location, level of education, certifications held, years of experience and who you are employed by. This is specialized career with financial upside as it’s consistently one of the top paying nursing jobs.
The ANCC Pain Management Nursing board offers a Pain Management Certification (PMGT – BC) which is an exam that assesses your knowledge and skills related to this specialty. This credential last for five years and can be maintained through certification renewals.
The timeframe depends on whether or not you already hold an active RN license. Per the ANCC, you must practice as an RN for 2 years. It also requires you to practice in a nursing role focused on pain management for at least 2,000 hours in the 3 years prior to applying for the certification. You then need to apply for and pass the exam. This process could take anywhere from 3 to 6 years depending on whether you need to attend nursing school or are already a practicing RN.
The three most common types of pain are: Acute pain, such as heart attack or broken bone. Chronic pain such as arthritis. Nociceptor signals from the body’s nerves, joints and muscles.
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