If you need help studying for the Pain Management Nursing exam or just want some more information about what the exam is like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to take a free Pain Management Nursing practice test!
Exam Eligibility
Before you can register to take the Pain Management Nursing exam, you’ll need to have a current RN or APRN license.
You’ll also have to meet ALL of the following requirements:
- You need at least 2 years of full-time practice as an RN
- You need at least 2,000 hours of clinical pain management nursing practice within the last 3 years
- You need at least 30 hours of continuing education in pain management nursing within the last 3 years
If you meet the requirements, you’re set to begin the registration process!
What’s on the Exam?
First, let’s talk about the questions on the exam. There are 150 multiple-choice questions total, but only 125 of the questions will count toward your score. Why is that?
The 25 unscored questions on the exam are added to the exam to determine if they’re good enough questions to add to future versions.
The trick is that you won’t have any way of knowing which questions are scored and which ones are unscored. Every question will appear like a scored question throughout the test.
The time limit for the exam is 3 hours. There aren’t any scheduled breaks, but you’re free to take restroom breaks as needed.
Let’s take a closer look at the different sections of the exam.
1. Fundamentals of Pain
55 scored questions
- Nociceptive, neuropathic, and nociplastic pain
- Etiology of pain
- Pain history
- Pain diagnoses and syndromes
- Physiological and psychological effects of uncontrolled pain
- Acute, chronic, and persistent pain
- Pain management models and theories
- Physiologic mechanisms of pain
- Monitoring and reassessment of pain and functional status
- Potential barriers to pain management
- Risk assessment of substance use disorder
- Pain descriptors and characteristics
- Quality-of-life and functional ability
- Coping mechanisms and support systems
- Pain assessment techniques, scales, and tools
2. Interventions
53 scored questions
- Patient-centered plan of care and treatment goals
- Routes of administration
- Medication safety and misuse
- Physical treatment modalities
- Cognitive and behavioral treatment modalities
- Complementary and integrative therapies
- Pain management interventions
- Safety considerations and potential complications
- Medication conversion and equivalence
- Multimodal pain management strategies
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Non-opioid analgesics
- Opioid analgesics
- Adjuvant medications
- Herbs and supplements
- Side effect prevention and management
3. Professional Practice
17 scored questions
- Cultural and other demographic considerations
- Scope, standards, guidelines, and ethics
- Patient, caregiver, and family education
- Therapeutic communication techniques
- Crisis and emergency response
How to Register
Once you’ve ensured that you meet all of the eligibility requirements, you can register for the exam!
To begin the registration process, you’ll need to create an account via the ANCC website. This account will give you the ability to register for the exam.
The examination fee is $395. ANIA members pay $340, while ANA members only pay $295.
Pain Management Nurse Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
Exam Scores
The Pain Management Nursing exam is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
For every question you answer correctly, you get one point added to your raw score. At the end of the test, your final raw score will be converted to a scaled score. This scaled score can go up to a maximum of 500.
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone that takes the test is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
Retaking the Exam
If you didn’t get a passing score on your first try, that’s okay! You can retake the test after a 60-day waiting period.
Keep in mind, you’ll have to pay a retesting fee of $270.
FAQs
How many questions are on the Pain Management Nursing exam?
The exam contains 150 questions.
What is the time limit for the Pain Management Nursing exam?
The exam is timed at 3 hours.
What is the passing score for the Pain Management Nursing exam?
You’ll need to get a final scaled score of at least 350 to pass.
How much does the Pain Management Nursing exam cost?
The testing fee is $395, with discounts available for ANA and ANIA members.