Idea

Around 13 million people in Germany suffer from severe pain. To enable nurses to master the tasks involved in the treatment and support of pain patients, the German Pain Society has developed a further training course to become a nurse for special pain care (Pain Nurse).

We have expanded this curriculum and are therefore able to award the nationally recognized certificate as a nurse for special pain care (German Pain Society) and the qualified certificate of the Heidelberg Academy for Health Professions as a "Pain Nurse".

We adhere correctly to the curriculum for nurses specializing in pain care (German Pain Society) and have added several modules to intensify it.

Goal

The qualification course is divided into an attendance phase of 106 hours, a study phase of around 25 hours and an internship phase of 24 hours. The theoretical content covers the curriculum content for the basic and advanced courses of the German Pain Society. The course ends with an examination in the form of a written elaboration of a practical project and an oral examination. We also offer all graduates of this additional qualification a refresher seminar.

The further training must be supplemented by a voluntary internship of at least three days in a designated focus area of pain care.

Contents

  • Basics of the anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of pain
  • Types and forms of pain, individual pain experience
  • Pain assessment
  • Multimodal therapy concept
  • Drug-based pain therapy for acute and chronic pain
  • Non-drug pain therapy e.g. psychotherapy, physiotherapy, TENS, biofeedback, art and music therapy, naturopathy, Chinese medicine
  • Invasive anesthesiological pain therapy
  • Postoperative pain therapy
  • Expert standard for pain management (DNQP)
  • Total pain total care concept
  • Patient and family counseling

Target group

Registered nurses, pediatric nurses, geriatric nurses and other members of the professional groups working in pain care.

Course times

Mon 22.09. - Tue 23.09.25
Mon 20.10. - Tue 21.10.25
Mon 24.11. - Tue 25.11.25
Mon 15.12. - Tue 16.12.25
Mon 12.01. - Wed 14.01.26
Mon 09.02. - Tue 10.02.26
Thu 26.03. - Fri 27.03.26 (oral exam + course completion)

+ a 3-day internship in a pain care facility

Please enclose a copy of your professional certificate with your application.

Technical management

Klaus Zürmer, specialist nurse for anaesthesia and intensive care, algesiology assistant
Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. Jens Keßler, specialist in anaesthesia, senior physician, head of the pain medicine section

All at a glance

Seats available

Lecturer
Lecturer pool

Number of participants
max. 25

Duration/effort:
15 days + a 3-day internship in a pain care facility

Start
22.09.2025

Dates

Location
AfG Heidelberg

Fee
€ 1350,- (€ 1300,- for members of the German Pain Society)

Points
25

Registration Form