[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Pain Management Nurse Career in Brief[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pain management nurses assess patients’ pain and identify the best way to assist them. These nurses also teach patients and their families how to cope with and manage pain on their own. This is particularly important due to the recent spike in opioid addiction.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Many pain management nurses now turn to nonpharmaceutical or alternative ways to alleviate pain, such as acupuncture, chiropractic medicine, spinal blocks, lifestyle changes, and stress and relaxation techniques.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Key Skills[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Knowledge of biological sciences and pain management pharmacology[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Compassion[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Critical Thinking[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Stamina[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Strong communication skills[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Where Do Pain Management Nurses Work?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pain management nurses work in many settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, doctors’ offices, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, oncology departments, and sports medicine clinics. Below are some differences between pain management nurses’ responsibilities in each setting.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Hospitals[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pain management nurses evaluate patients’ pain source and level and administer pain medications through intravenous, intramuscular, or intrathecal techniques.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Rehabilitation Centers[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses educate patients on responsible pain management, provide pharmacological treatment in a controlled setting, and may administer noninvasive treatments like relaxation exercises or massages.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Oncology Units[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pain management nurses assist doctors with pain relief therapies for cancer patients, administering medication while teaching patients about responsible consumption.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Why Become a Pain Management Nurse?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]To make an informed decision about whether this is the right career path for you, consider the pros and cons of becoming a pain management nurse.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How to Become a Pain Management Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How Much Do Pain Management Nurses Make?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]According to [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Pain_Management_Nurse/Salary” target=”_blank”]data from PayScale[/hen-ui-link], pain management nurses earn an average base salary of $60,000. However, salaries vary according to location, experience, and education level, with earnings ranging from $28,000 to $78,000 among top earners.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Like other nurses, pain management nurses face an optimistic job outlook. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the number of RNs could grow much faster than average, increasing by over 220,000 jobs through 2029 at a 7% growth rate. This is largely due to an aging population demanding more medical care as baby boomers grow older.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-grid columns=”1″ columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”][hen-ui-article-card title=”Pain Management Nurse Salary” href=”/careers/pain-management/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][hen-ui-article-card title=”Find State-Specific Salary Data” href=”/registered-nursing/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]What is accreditation and why is it important?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Attending an accredited school is essential. The accreditation process evaluates institutions and programs, ensuring that they adhere to quality standards. Aspiring nurses must hold an accredited degree to sit for the NCLEX-RN, apply for licensure, and find employment.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]How long does it take to become a certified pain management nurse?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]It can take 5-8 years to become [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/pain-management/how-to-become/”]a certified pain management nurse[/hen-ui-link], or even longer for part-time nursing students. Individuals can earn nursing licensure through a two-year ADN or [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/bsn/four-year-bsn-degree/”]four-year BSN program[/hen-ui-link]. Candidates also need three years of RN work experience to qualify for professional certification.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]How do pain management nurses assess pain?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pain management nurses assess pain through several different methods, all of which require a patient’s verbal input. Nurses may ask patients to rate their pain level on a numeric scale or identify a facial expression on the Wong-Baker Scale. Nurses may also request a multidimensional assessment, asking questions about the intensity and type of pain the patient feels in each body part.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]What alternatives to medication do pain management nurses use to treat patients?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]To avoid the risk of opioid addiction, many pain management nurses and doctors introduce patients to alternative treatments. These may include exercise or diet changes, yoga and meditation, acupuncture, chiropractic medicine, spinal blocks, or botox injections.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Resources for Nurse Educators[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”http://www.aspmn.org/Pages/default.aspx” target=”_blank”] American Society for Pain Management Nursing[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] Founded in 1990, this organization provides a network for nurses specializing in pain management. ASPMN offers certification for qualified nurses and facilitates continuing education opportunities, webinars, and an annual conference. Members enjoy a subscription to the organization’s journal and may participate in advocacy efforts.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”http://www.aspmn.org/Pages/careercenter.aspx” target=”_blank”] ASPMN Career Center[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] ASPMN maintains this exclusive job portal for individuals beginning their careers or looking for a new job. Members can upload their resumes and access other career resources, like a free resume review.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://painmed.org/” target=”_blank”] American Academy of Pain Medicine[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] This association represents medical professionals who specialize in pain medicine and management, including clinicians, doctors, and nurses. AAPM offers educational opportunities, hosts an annual conference, and publishes a peer-reviewed journal to which members receive a subscription. Members can also take advantage of a career center, patient educational materials, and tools for practice.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.asra.com/” target=”_blank”] The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] With over 5,000 members in 60 countries, ASRA serves professionals who administer anesthesia or other pain medicines. The group offers members-only resources and provides over $240,000 in research funding. Members can network through special interest groups, annual meetings, and advocacy efforts.[/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Related Pages[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”slider” ids=”33944,33995,34440,33940″][/hen-ui-article-row][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Reviewed by:[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Elizabeth Clarke, FNP, MSN, RN, MSSW” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/c_fill,g_face,h_200,w_200/c_scale,w_200/e_grayscale/v1616020353/NurseJournal.org/Elizabeth_Clarke-1.jpg” img-alt=”Elizabeth Clarke, FNP, MSN, RN, MSSW” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Elizabeth Clarke (Poon) is a board-certified family nurse practitioner who provides primary and urgent care to pediatric populations. She earned a BSN and MSN from the University of Miami.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Clarke is a paid member of our Healthcare Review Partner Network. [hen-ui-link href=”/healthcare-review-partners//”]Learn more about our review partners[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex]