Pain Management for Nursing Professionals

This certificate of achievement is a one-course program that can be completed in 12 weeks or less. LPN's and RN's are required to provide their license number at the time of course registration.

Pain management impacts a patient's recovery, which affects all areas of care and subsequently, all areas of nursing. As a student in the Pain Management for Nursing Professionals program, you will become familiar with the mechanisms of pain and the practice of pain management in nursing.

You will review up-to-date research focusing on the role of nurses in the inter-professional team management of chronic and acute pain across the lifespan in various populations.

An introduction to the epidemiology and neurophysiology of pain will provide the basis for in-depth discussions related to the appropriate use of several nursing interventions including pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain management methods in pediatric, adult, and Indigenous clients.

You will also review:

• opioid safety
• the use of cannabis, and
• end of life pain management

The program includes discussion related to the role of nurses in leadership and advocacy in the field of pain management. Knowledge gained from this course will be relevant and applicable to all nursing care clinical settings.

All materials are included. No additional texts are required.

This program is an approved elective for the University of Saskatchewan Nursing students.

Your Career

Continuous Enrolment

• Online/Distance options available



Some programs offered online or otherwise by distance (i.e., correspondence) include on-site labs, clinicals, practicums or work experiences. They may be offered course-by-course or full-time, or both, and deliveries may change over time.

View the program page for a complete list of courses and additional information.

Admission Requirements

• Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse (diploma or degree graduate), or
• Currently enrolled in a post-secondary nursing degree program and have completed year 2 of the program; program approval may be required to receive elective credits
• English Language Requirement  

Admission Method

The First Qualified/First Admitted (FQFA) process is used for the majority of Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs. When we determine that you meet the program's admission requirements, you will be offered admission based on the date you fully qualify for the program. The earlier you provide the appropriate documents and information that qualify you for admission to the next intake, the earlier you might begin your studies. Your application, once qualified, is always considered for the next intake. 

Applicants to programs with multiple intakes in an academic year remain in the application pool until the last intake for that academic year has begun. Programs using the FQFA process receive applications year round and maintain an application pool for each academic year. Qualified applicants who are not offered a seat must reapply for the next academic year. 

Sponsored programs or programs targeted to specific groups do not accept applications year round or maintain an application pool.

See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.

2020/21 Academic Year

$390 (single course only; includes fees)

This program is not eligible for the Canada-Saskatchewan student loan program.