NR 565 CERTIFICATION EVALUATION 2026
EXAM QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
◉ What were provisions made to the guidelines for prescribing
opioids to non-cancer patients?.
Answer: Using opioids only after non-opioid analgesics or more
conservative methods have failed
Discussing the benefits and risks for long term opioids with patient
When possible, one prescriber, one pharmacy
Ensuring comprehensive follow up to assess efficacy and side effects
of treatment and monitor for signs of opioid abuse
Stopping opioids after an attempt at opioid rotation had produced
inadequate benefits
Fully documenting the entire process
◉ When prescribing opioids should patient be initially started on IR
or ER?.
Answer: IR- lowest dose for shortest amount of time
◉ How are patients initially exposed to opioids?.
,Answer: either recreationally (illicitly) or in context of pain
management in medical setting
◉ Which group of professionals are at greater risk for abusing?.
Answer: health care providers, nurses, pharmacists
◉ What are some effects of opioid use that DON'T change with long
term use and tolerance?.
Answer: constipation and miosis (pupil constriction)
◉ tolerance does develop?.
Answer: euphoria, respiratory depression, and nausea
◉ Is opioid withdrawal life threatening?.
Answer: unpleasant but rarely dangerous
◉ Methadone can be used for which two therapies?.
Answer: maintenance- transferring addict from abuse opioid to oral
methadone
suppressive- prevent the reinforcing effects of opioid induced
euphoria
◉ Methadone half life?.
, Answer: long, prescribed only by providers with special training in
pain management
◉ Does methadone or buprenorphine have a ceiling (drugs that
impact on body plateus) to respiratory depression?.
Answer: buprenorphine - makes it safer
◉ What are the therapeutic uses for morphine?.
Answer: pain management, sedation, euphoria, respiratory
depression, cough suppression, reduces anxiety, a sense of well-
being, suppress GI motility (help with severe diarrhea)
◉ Therapeutic uses of fentanyl?.
Answer: Chronic or acute severe pain, cancer pain
◉ Risk factors for opioid use disorder.
Answer: chronic pain, family history, other substance abuse,
prescribed for long term use
◉ Drugs not safe to take with opioids.
Answer: opioids, benzos, alcohol, CNS depressants, anti-histamines,
general anesthetics
EXAM QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
◉ What were provisions made to the guidelines for prescribing
opioids to non-cancer patients?.
Answer: Using opioids only after non-opioid analgesics or more
conservative methods have failed
Discussing the benefits and risks for long term opioids with patient
When possible, one prescriber, one pharmacy
Ensuring comprehensive follow up to assess efficacy and side effects
of treatment and monitor for signs of opioid abuse
Stopping opioids after an attempt at opioid rotation had produced
inadequate benefits
Fully documenting the entire process
◉ When prescribing opioids should patient be initially started on IR
or ER?.
Answer: IR- lowest dose for shortest amount of time
◉ How are patients initially exposed to opioids?.
,Answer: either recreationally (illicitly) or in context of pain
management in medical setting
◉ Which group of professionals are at greater risk for abusing?.
Answer: health care providers, nurses, pharmacists
◉ What are some effects of opioid use that DON'T change with long
term use and tolerance?.
Answer: constipation and miosis (pupil constriction)
◉ tolerance does develop?.
Answer: euphoria, respiratory depression, and nausea
◉ Is opioid withdrawal life threatening?.
Answer: unpleasant but rarely dangerous
◉ Methadone can be used for which two therapies?.
Answer: maintenance- transferring addict from abuse opioid to oral
methadone
suppressive- prevent the reinforcing effects of opioid induced
euphoria
◉ Methadone half life?.
, Answer: long, prescribed only by providers with special training in
pain management
◉ Does methadone or buprenorphine have a ceiling (drugs that
impact on body plateus) to respiratory depression?.
Answer: buprenorphine - makes it safer
◉ What are the therapeutic uses for morphine?.
Answer: pain management, sedation, euphoria, respiratory
depression, cough suppression, reduces anxiety, a sense of well-
being, suppress GI motility (help with severe diarrhea)
◉ Therapeutic uses of fentanyl?.
Answer: Chronic or acute severe pain, cancer pain
◉ Risk factors for opioid use disorder.
Answer: chronic pain, family history, other substance abuse,
prescribed for long term use
◉ Drugs not safe to take with opioids.
Answer: opioids, benzos, alcohol, CNS depressants, anti-histamines,
general anesthetics
