What does a pain management nurse do?
A pain management nurse is a registered nurse who assesses pain, helps plan treatment with medication and other methods, monitors for side effects and teaches patients and families. The work includes safe use of opioids.
Where they work
Hospitals, pain clinics, surgery centers, palliative care and hospice, and anesthesia pain services. Some nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists specialize in pain, see nurse anesthetist.
Certification
The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers pain management nursing certification for nurses with practice hours in the field. It is voluntary.
Pay
Not reported separately. The median RN earned $97,550 in May 2025 and the median NP $132,300.
Pay and projections: Bureau of Labor Statistics. NCLEX figures: NCSBN. Enrollment: AACN. Sources and years are ondata sources.