Safe Opioid Prescribing for Adults by Nurse Practitioners: Part 1. Patient History and Assessment Standards and Techniques

Using an opioid to treat pain is the last component in a sequence of events that are documented and inform the provider and the patient about treatment choices, responsibilities of each person, and consequences that could result if there is misuse. The prescribing process begins with a comprehensive history and multiple assessments that use risk assessment and other tools, urine drug tests, prescription reviews, informed consents, and patient provider agreements. Nurse practitioners have a professional responsibility to follow state and national guidelines for safe opioid prescribing to protect patients, the public and themselves if they become the subject of an investigation.