Pain Management Part 6: Management of Opioid Side Effects

Presented by Cathleen Armato

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Video Runtime: 13 Minutes, Learning Assessments: 23 Minutes

Opioid management is a learned skill requiring the clinician to understand the mechanisms and metabolites of opioids and how to effectively deal with the adverse side effects of this necessary treatment.

This advanced course will help the clinician identify and prepare for the most common side effects and evaluate less common side effects. The course will also cover management of side effects that can sometimes be serious, including when to rotate opioids.

This final course in the pain series is appropriate for nurses and case managers in all settings who assist in pain management.

Meet your instructor

Cathleen Armato

Cathleen Armato is an experienced executive with 22 years in the home care and hospice industry. She has served in various roles during that time, including VP of operations and chief compliance officer for a nationwide healthcare provider. In 2012, Cat became a consultant. Since that time, she has assisted multiple…

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Chapters & learning objectives

Management of Common Side Effects of Opioids

1. Management of Common Side Effects of Opioids

In this chapter, we will discuss the most common side effects of opioid use. We will examine the nurse’s role in educating and preparing the patient, as well as maximizing appropriate therapies to minimize these side effects.

Less Common Side Effects of Opioids

2. Less Common Side Effects of Opioids

Often, the less common side effects of opioid therapy are misinterpreted as related to the disease process and not to the opioids. Recognizing these less common side effects can prepare the clinician to manage these symptoms more effectively.