Continuing Education

Geriatric Pain Management: Balancing Comfort, Safety, and Function

1.75 contact hours – November 5th, 2026 – November 30, 2028

This presentation will help nurses strengthen their knowledge and skills in assessing and managing pain in older adults using evidence-based, patient-centered approaches. Participants will gain a better understanding of how aging, cognitive impairment, and medication-related risks influence pain assessment and treatment. The presentation explores both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, emphasizing patient safety, comfort, and functional independence. Nurses will be better prepared to recognize undertreated pain, individualize interventions, and collaborate with the healthcare team to improve quality of life and outcomes for older adults.

Session Objectives:

By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Identify common causes, presentations, and assessment considerations for pain in older adults, including challenges related to cognitive impairment and communication.
  2. Apply evidence-based pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic pain management strategies while considering age-related changes, polypharmacy, adverse effects, and safety risks.
  3. Develop individualized pain management approaches that balance comfort, functional goals, quality of life, and patient safety in the geriatric population.

Successful completion of learning activity:

Participants who view the module in its entirety, pass the post-test with 80% or higher and complete the evaluation form, will receive an electronic certificate via email. RNs completing the activity will receive 1.75 contact hours of continuing education.

Disclaimer

Presentation

 

POST TEST DIRECTIONS

COST: This CE is FREE for MNA members and $20 for non-members

POST-TEST: Complete the post-test & evaluation response form ONLINE by clicking here.

AWARDING OF CE

  • Participants who view the module in its entirety, pass the post-test with 80% or higher and complete the evaluation form, will receive an electronic certificate via email. RNs completing the activity will receive 1.75 contact hours of continuing education.

Resources

  • American Geriatrics Society Panel on Pharmacological Management of Persistent Pain in Older Persons. (2009). Pharmacological management of persistent pain in older persons. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 57(8), 1331–1346. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2009.02376.x
  • Horgas, A. L. (2017). Pain assessment in older adults. Nursing Clinics of North America, 52(3), 375–385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnur.2017.04.006
  • Odhner, M., Wegman, D., Freeland, N., Steinmetz, A., & Ingersoll, G. L. (2003). Assessing pain control in nonverbal critically ill adults. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, 22(6), 260–267. https://doi.org/10.1097/00003465-200311000-00010
  • Warden, V., Hurley, A. C., & Volicer, L. (2003). Development and psychometric evaluation of the Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD) scale. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 4(1), 9–15. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.JAM.0000043422.31640.F7