Revised Advisory Ruling 0901: Management of Pain

September 15, 2016

To:                  Massachusetts Nursing and Professional Healthcare Organizations

From:              Laurie Talarico, MS, RN, CNP Nursing Practice Coordinator

Re:                  Revised Advisory Ruling 0901: Management of Pain 

At the September 14, 2016 Board of Registration in Nursing (Board) meeting, the Board revised Advisory Ruling (AR) 0901: Management of Pain to ensure compliance with current statutes, regulations and scope of practice standards.

The AR guides the practice nursing in promoting patient access to appropriate, therapeutic and effective assessment, diagnosis and management of acute and chronic pain.

Chapter 52 of the Acts of 2016 (signed into law in March, 2016) amended section

M.G.L. c. 94C, s. 18(e) by providing for three additional educational topics that must be completed prior to obtaining or renewing an APRN’s (with prescriptive authority) Board authorization to practice:

1. the risks of abuse and addiction associated with opioid medication; 

2. appropriate prescription quantities for prescription medications that have an increased risk of abuse; and 

3. opioid antagonists, overdose prevention treatments and instances in which a patient may be advised on both the use of and ways to access opioid antagonists and overdose prevention treatments.

    

   AR 0901: Management of Pain revisions:

1. Update Advisory Ruling 0901: Management of Pain to include M.G.L. c. 94C, s. 18(e) additional educational requirements:

   • the risks of abuse and addiction associated with opioid medication; 

   • appropriate prescription quantities for prescription medications that have an increased risk of abuse; and 

   • opioid antagonists, overdose prevention treatments and instances in which a

     patient may be advised on both the use of and ways to access opioid antagonists and overdose prevention treatments.

      

2. Retain the Board’s standards for appropriate pain management programs to those:

1. that meet the Board’s regulatory requirements at 244 CMR 5.00 without regard for a specific number of contact hours; and

2. to which APRNs with prescriptive authority attest to completing prior to each renewal period.

    

   Please take a moment to review the entire Advisory Ruling 0901.