The enduring need for the pain resource nurse (PRN) training program.

Nurses play a pivotal role in pain management but academic nursing curricula remain lacking in basic pain management principles. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term impact of the City of Hope Pain Resource Nurse (PRN) Training Course on nursing pain management practice. An online survey, comparing RNs' pre- and post-training practice, assessed the long-term impact of the course on content application and dissemination. Participants with 1-9 years post-course attendance (2002-2010) were invited to complete a brief survey (N = 783). Respondents (N = 180; 23%) reported significant improvements in their comfort with basic opioid administration (p < .001). Relaxation was the most common non-drug intervention used by respondents. Pain assessment content was most frequently applied to practice (97%). Most respondents (89%) disseminated course content to others within their own institutions. PRN-trained nurses expressed improved confidence in pain management and attributed course content to the improvement in their practice behavior.