Pain Management Nursing: How Do I Get There?

[elb252]

Hi everyone:

I'm currently a traditional undergraduate student who will soon be entering my 4th year. I've heard a lot of (great) things about pain management nursing and I think it's a specialty I'd really like to enter at some point in my nursing career. From many personal experiences both inside and outside the clinical, I already know that this specialty is a nice fit for me.

So, my question is, how do I get there? I know I should start working in a med/surg unit for the first few years I'm out of school, but what do I do next? Would anyone be willing to give some information to a novice? :)

Thank you so much!

Erika

[kboyertcu]

Well, When I first got out of school I was a OB nurse. At one point I went into a pain management clinic for an unrelated procedure which required the use of a fluoroscope at any rate I started talking with the staff about how i hated working nights and I got off of the table and was basically hired then. Pain is not exactly a job that millions of people are dying to get into. In fact the entire time I was in NP school people would say. PAIN OMG I bet you hated that. Actually no, I dont, I find it challenging and yes it can be HARD, and yes there are drug seekers but the good people outweigh the bad. JMHO. Freestanding facilities for pain are abundant. Just look and i am sure you will find! Good Luck.

PS I am now a pain management nurse practitioner, thats how much i was made for this sector!

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Sometimes when we least expect it, the perfect opportunity arises. Most of the pain management doctors I know are anesthesiologists first. You might try asking some CRNAs and anes docs. Two of the pain doctors I know used to be RNs.