Events

Presenter: Megan Filoramo, MSN, APN-C, Pain Management NP, Educator and Nurse Coach, NJ Pain Consultants/Altair Health

Sponsoring organization: American Society for Pain Management Nursing (ASPMN)

Target audience: Nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, physical therapists, or psychologists

About the webinar: Compassionate weaning of opioids should include both pharmacological and emotional support. There are options for both slow tapers and abrupt cessation, and selection should be based on individualized patient needs and on a shared decision-making model. This process should include not only a clear outline of the treatment plan but also alternative treatments for the pain, appropriate pharmacologic treatment of withdrawal symptoms, frequent patient re-evaluation and revision of the plan as needed. To adequately support the patient through this process, it is critical patients understand the weaning does not equate abandonment by their clinical team. Opioid tapering does not need to contribute to patient suffering.

Educational objectives:

• Identify 3 pharmacologic approaches to weaning opioids.
• Describe what a shared decision making model looks like in the setting of opioid weaning
• List 3 components of emotional support necessary for patient success with weaning