Course 7: Prescribing Short-Acting Opioids: Four Case Studies
What You’ll Learn
- Identify the four indications for using short-acting opioids
- Prescribe safely for each of the four indications: occasional, uncontrolled acute severe, continuous, and breakthrough pain
What You’ll Earn
Only CAPC members who are logged in can earn the following free Continuing Education Credits:
- 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
- Nursing: 1.00 CNE, 1.00 Pharmacotherapy
To take this course, log in. Or, check here to see if your organization is a member.
LoginTake the course
Take the post-test
Complete evaluation
Download your certificate
Tools & Resources
Case examples used in the CAPC curriculum to illustrate pain management techniques.
Course citations. Center to Advance Palliative Care, 2015.
A pocket reference of safe starting doses for the opioid-naïve patient.
Sample protocol for managing constipation. Organizations can create similar protocols in collaboration with referring clinicians and pharmacists. Lee Health, 2013.
Key terms related to pain and pain management. Center to Advance Palliative Care, 2015.
Opioid pocket reference for providers including safe starting doses, equianalgesic chart, and standard dosing strengths.
When to use - and when to avoid - 6 classes of analgesics including acetaminophen, NSAIDs, opioids, antiepileptics, antidepressants, and corticosteroids.
The 0-10 Numeric Pain Intensity Scale is the most commonly used pain intensity scale and is based on self-report.
Course Directors
Course Faculty
Constance Dahlin, MSN, ANP-BC, ACHPN, FPCN, FAAN. Consultant, Center to Advance Palliative Care.
Jaime Goldberg, MSW, LCSW, ACHP-SW. PhD student, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Social Work.
Philip Higgins, PhD, LICSW. President, Lighthouse Counseling of Salem, Inc.
Lynn Hill Spragens, MBA. Partner, Spragens & Gualtieri-Reed.
Jay R. Horton, PhD, ACHPN, FNP-BC, MPH, CENP. Director of Nursing Safety, Quality, and Performance Improvement Mount Sinai Hospital. Assistant Professor Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Khadidjatou Kane, MD. Oncology Hospitalist, Assistant Professor of Hospital Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Lolita Melhado, MSN, ARNP, FNP-BC. Family Nurse Practitioner/Palliative Care, Gulf Coast Medical Center - Lee Memorial Health System.
Bridget Montana, MSN, APRN, FPCN, MBA. Hope HealthCare Services, Chief Operating Officer.
Colleen Mulkerin, MSW, LCSW. Director Palliative Care Consult Service, Hartford Hospital.
Drew Rosielle, MD, FAAHPM. Palliative Care, Fairview Health Services, University of Minnesota Medical School.
David Weissman, MD. President, Palliative Care Education, LLC.
Peer Reviewers
Sherika S. Newman, DO. Hospice & Palliative Medicine, Family Medicine Piedmont Healthcare.*
Karl Bezak, MD. Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Palliative Care and Medical Ethics, University of Pittsburg (UPMC).*
Sivan Ben-Moshe, MD. Fellow, Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Sachin Kale, MD. Fellow, Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Katie Wang, MD. Fellow, Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
*indicates ABIM Peer Reviewer
Contact information: For answers to frequently asked questions about CAPC courses, read the Online Course FAQ. For technical questions about course activity, email membership@capc.org. For questions about continuing education credits, contact 201-957-0077.

Provided by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.