NURS 5101: Fundamental Mechanisms of Acute and Chronic Pain (3-credits)

Course Description: An exploration of physiological processes involved in pain transmission as well as the psychological, emotional, and cognitive processes that modulate pain experience based on the current literature using both animal and human pain models. To assess their mastery of these topics, students will engage in discussion about primary research articles (e.g., critical assessment of experimental design and caveats in the methods used as well as the conceptual framework and quality of the data, etc.), write topical papers and give brief presentations on the fundamental mechanisms underlying pain transmission, modulation, and/or perception.

NURS 5102: Basic and Clinical Pain Research (3-credits)

Course Description: Exploration of the methods and models (both basic and clinical) used to study pain.

NURS 5103: Pharmacology of Pain and Analgesia (3-credits)

Course Description: This course will review the pharmacological processes underlying normal and pathological pain states, and will build upon this knowledge to gain an understanding of the pharmacotherapies currently utilized for the treatment of pain and their shortcomings. Particular emphasis will also be placed on the concept of individualized care and developing technologies within this realm.

NURS 5104: Pain Assessment and Management (3-credits)

Course Description: This seminar-based course comprised of seminars by clinicians and pain scientists will evaluate, integrate and translate findings from primary literature into evidence-based practice on assessment and management of pain.