NURSES KNOWLEDGE ABOUT EQUIANALGESIA AND OPIOID DOSING

Nurses are recognized as the cornerstone of palliative care. Yet, surv eys of nurses' knowledge of cancer pain management reveal serious know ledge deficits that could adversely affect the care of patients with c ancer pain. Previous research has explored basic pain management issue s such as pain assessment and myths and misconceptions surrounding pai n, and principles of analgesic use. Advances in recent years have incr eased the demand for continuing education that will extend scientific advances in pain to clinical practice. The purpose of this article is to share results from a study which evaluated nurses knowledge regardi ng three methods of analgesic delivery that have become common in clin ical practice. intravenous morphine, extended release morphine, and tr ansdermal fentanyl. Several resources are provided to assist clinician s in the appropriate use of these analgesic methods.