Questions for NPs in pain management

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Specializes in ICU, Informatics.

I'm thinking about heading down this route some day and would like to draw on the collective wisdom from all of you...

What type of setting to you work in? Pain clinic? Hospice? Oncology?

What do you like and hate about your job? Relief of suffering? Drug seekers? Interesting procedures?

What is the salary like for this specialty? More/less than other specialties?

After your experiences would you encourage others to go this route?

Thanks in advance for your insights!

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I worked in a pain management clinic for the past 6 months. I am currently look for a new job. I am yelled at and threatened on a daily basis. I also see between 35-45 patients per day.

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I did a clinical rotation in pain management during NP school. I loved it! The doctor was fantastic - his goal was to minimize use of opioids and he successfully weaned many patients off opioids. It is a wonderful feeling to reduce a patient's pain. The patients were extremely nice and grateful. We did have an occasional drug seeker, but it was not a big issue. There are now many procedures and nonopioid pain treatments. Just be careful not to work for a "pill mill." Pain mgt specialists do make more than a general primary care AGNP or FNP. This area is not for everyone - I think you have to be the sort of person who also likes psych-related work.

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I agree 100%, in the right setting pain management would be very rewarding. My clinic does not offer any interventions to reduce pain other than opioids. This is a newer clinic that quickly became a pill mill.

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what kind of threats?

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Physical violence and death threats. Mainly violence.

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Physical violence and death threats. Mainly violence.

That's awful

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