Nursing and the Opioid Epidemic
The opioid epidemic is a serious public health issue, resulting from increased use of prescription and nonprescription opioid medications. Drug overdose is a leading cause of injury death in the United States, and as nurses, we have a responsibility to get involved and educate patients and the public about the current opioid epidemic. We can start by increasing our own knowledge and updating our understanding of the problem, adequately and appropriately assessing and managing pain, and advocating for responsible use of opioids. We’ve compiled the resources below to help nurses and advanced practice nurses successfully contribute to this effort.
Two special CE collections at reduced prices
Opioid Crisis: for Advanced Practice Nurses
5.5 contact hours/5.5 advanced pharmacology hours, $27.95
Opioid Crisis: for Registered Nurses
7.5 contact hours, $19.99
Special Journal Issues on the Opioid Crisis
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About the opioid crisis
Buy Structural Racism and the Opioid Overdose Epidemic: The Need for Antiracist Public Health Practice
Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, May/June 2020
Buy How Are Telehealth Laws Intersecting With Laws Addressing the Opioid Overdose Epidemic?
Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, May/June 2020
Free Case Managers and Community Efforts to Impact the Opioid Crisis
Professional Case Management, March/April 2020
Buy Managing Pain During an Opioid Epidemic
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, December 2019
Buy Advocating for adequate pain relief during the opioid epidemic
Nursing2019, December 2019
Buy The opioid crisis: Staff empowerment strategies
Nursing made Incredibly Easy!, November/December 2019
Buy Opioid Crisis: Equianalgesia Dosing Considerations for Home Care Cancer Patients
Home Healthcare Now, November/December 2019
Buy Methamphetamine Use: A New Wave in the Opioid Crisis?
Journal of Addictions Nursing, July/September 2019
Free The Opioid Crisis: The Provider's Role
Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, May/June 2019
Buy Evolution of the national opioid crisis
Nursing2020, May 2019
Free Addressing Opioid Epidemic Through Interprofessional Education and Communication Is Key
Journal of Addictions Nursing, April/June 2019
Free The Opioid Epidemic: A Public Health Emergency
Rehabilitation Nursing Journal, March/April 2019
Buy Can Regulation Solve the Opioid Crisis?
Professional Case Management, March/April 2018
CE “Gray Death”—The Trojan Horse of the Opioid Epidemic: Historical, Clinical, and Safety Evidence for the Clinical Nurse Specialist
Clinical Nurse Specialist: The Journal for Advanced Nursing Practice, November/December 2017
Free The Opioid Epidemic: Are Women Most Vulnerable?
Lippincott NursingCenter.com, November 2017
Free Using the art and science of nursing to fight the opioid crisis
Lippincott NursingCenter.com, August 2017
CE Nurses’ Role in Preventing Prescription Opioid Diversion
American Journal of Nursing, August 2015
About opioids
Free Opioid Use in Pregnancy
MCN, The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, November/December 2017
CE Opioids in Oncology Care
Oncology Times, June 2017
Free Eradicating the Overuse of Opioids on the Front Line
Professional Case Management, March/April 2017
CE Appropriate Use of Opioids in Managing Chronic Pain
American Journal of Nursing, July 2016
Managing patients dependent on opioids
CE Opioid Use Disorder: Pathophysiology, Assessment, and Effective Interventions
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, June 2020
Buy Traumatic Brain Injury and Opioid Overdose Among Post-9/11 Veterans With Long-Term Opioid Treatment of Chronic Pain
Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, May/June 2020
CE Caring for the hospitalized patient with opioid use disorder
Nursing made Incredibly Easy!, January/February 2020
Free Naloxone Accessibility and Use by Rehabilitation Therapists for Opioid Overdoses
Home Healthcare Now, January/February 2020
Buy Non-pharmacological interventions for acute pain management in patients with opioid abuse or opioid tolerance: a scoping review protocol
JBI Evidence Synthesis, July 2019
CE Acute Pain Management for People with Opioid Use Disorder
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, October 2018
CE Chronic Pain, Impulsivity, and Risk for Opioid Misuse
Topics in Pain Management, July 2018
Buy Treating Acute Pain in the Opiate-Dependent Patient
Journal of Trauma Nursing, September/October 2017
CE Identifying and Assessing the Substance-Exposed Infant
The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, March/April 2015
CE The Baltimore Buprenorphine Initiative: Understanding the Role of Buprenorphine in Addressing Heroin Addiction in an Urban-Based Community
Journal of Addictions Nursing, January/March 2014
For advanced practice nurses
CE Medication-assisted Treatment for Opioid use Disorder
The Nurse Practitioner, March 2019
Free The role of NPs in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder
The Nurse Practitioner, May 2018
Buy Transitioning Florida NPs to opioid prescribing
The Nurse Practitioner, September 2017
CE Opioids for pain management in older adults: Strategies for safe prescribing
The Nurse Practitioner, February 2017
Buy Nurse Practitioner Prescriptive Authority for Buprenorphine: From DATA 2000 to CARA 2016
Journal of Addictions Nursing, January/March 2017
CE Making the Journey from Opioid and Heroin Addiction: One Map for the Clinical Nurse Specialist
Clinical Nurse Specialist: The Journal for Advanced Nursing Practice, September/October 2016
Free Advocate for NPs to be part of the solution to the opioid epidemic
The Nurse Practitioner, August 2016
CE Opioid Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: Prescribing Considerations for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, December 2014
ANA Resources
The Opioid Epidemic:
