Penn Nursing Takes Pledge on Opioid Education as Announced at the White House

Penn Nursing Takes Pledge on Opioid Education as Announced at the White House

Newswise — PHILADELPHIA (April 29, 2016) – As part of academic nursing’s ongoing efforts to combat prescription drug and opioid abuse across the United States, the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) is proud to announce that it has committed to educating its advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) students on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. The commitment was featured in a White House fact sheet today as part of the White House Champions of Change event on Advancing Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery. Earlier this month, the Administration asked the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) member schools with APRN programs to partner on this initiative. Penn Nursing recognizes that opioid abuse is a pressing public health crisis, and it is critical that APRN students receive education on current standards. Today, AACN’s President and CEO Deborah Trautman, PhD, RN, FAAN, will offer remarks at the White House to recognize the 191 AACN member nursing schools that have taken this pledge.

“AACN is proud of the rapid response by our membership when the Administration called to help ensure future generations of providers who prescribe opioids for chronic pain are prepared for the critical work ahead,” said Dr. Trautman. “We commend academic nursing’s dedication to ensuring our nation’s future providers are prepared to address opioid abuse and overdose using best practices.”

“The abuse of opioids is a serious and growing problem across the United States and throughout the world, affecting not only individuals, but also families and communities,” said Penn Nursing Dean Antonia Villarruel, PhD, RN, FAAN. “As nursing educators, we are committed to preparing our graduates to provide effective symptom management, to recognize the signs of addiction, and also to consider the factors and determinants related to opioid abuse. Penn Nursing is proud to support and make a commitment to the CDC’s efforts to combat this growing problem.”

For a complete list of AACN member schools who have pledged, visit: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/opioids.

About the University of Pennsylvania School of NursingThe University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is one of the world’s leading schools of nursing, is consistently ranked as one of the top graduate nursing schools in the United States, and is among the nation’s top recipients of nursing research funding from the National Institutes of Health. Penn Nursing prepares nurse scientists and nurse leaders to meet the health needs of a global society through research, education, and practice. Follow Penn Nursing on: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram & YouTube.