Free Download Available | Summary Slides on Analgesics in Orthopedics (For Training and Education)
Hello everyone. I am Yakusura, a hospital pharmacist who loves PowerPoint. This time, I have created a summary slide deck on analgesics in the field of orthopedics. You can download it for free to use as-is for training sessions, so please feel free to use it if you like.
Background of the Theme Selection
I usually work in the orthopedic ward. One day while on duty, a ward nurse approached me.
On the ward
Nurse: "Yakusura-san, could you hold a mini training session on analgesics for the nurses on the ward?"
Me: "Uh... sure. I'll consult with my supervisor first."
(Inner voice: Yes! I get to make a PowerPoint! Being able to make one openly during work hours is the best!)
I returned to the pharmacy feeling excited and immediately consulted my supervisor.
At the pharmacy
Me: "I received a request to hold a mini training session on analgesics for the nurses in the orthopedic ward. I'm thinking of taking charge of it; would that be alright?"
Supervisor: "Oh, in that case, I have slides I made before, so I'll do it. You're busy, right? Leave it to me."
(Inner voice: Why do you have slides for that specific topic! I wanted to make them!)
Me: "...If that's the case, I'll leave it to you."
My supervisor handled the training session, and it ended successfully without any issues. However, for some reason, I felt unsatisfied. The desire to create my own analgesic slides grew stronger every day, and eventually, even though no one asked me to, I made them myself. That is the material for this time.
The completed slides are here
Available on Docswell (Free download available)👇
https://www.docswell.com/s/yakusura/ZGNXD9-2026-03-29-170427
Assumed Settings for the Slides
These slides were created with the following settings in mind.
Target audience: Nurses working in the orthopedic ward. I assumed they receive orders for analgesics daily but have few opportunities to learn systematically about pain classification and the proper use of different drugs.
Presentation time: Approximately 20 minutes (about 20 slides)
Main message: The two pillars are drug selection based on pathology and safety management for each drug.
Slide structure and intent
These slides are broadly organized into four sections.
Section 1: Classification of pain
First, I present the three classifications: nociceptive pain, neuropathic pain, and nociplastic pain. Nurses deal with pain complaints daily, but they rarely have the opportunity to consciously consider 'which classification this pain falls into.' By covering this first, I have made it easier for the subsequent discussion on drug selection to be understood.
Section 2: Characteristics of each drug
I cover six types: acetaminophen, NSAIDs, gabapentinoids, SNRIs (duloxetine), neurotropin, and weak opioids (tramadol). Each slide is divided into 'Characteristics' and 'Points of Caution' columns using bullet points. I created the bulleted content with the nurse's perspective in mind, focusing on the information needed for patient monitoring. Detailed pharmacological mechanisms are omitted, and mechanisms of action are summarized concisely. Basically, I have used simple diagrams, so you are welcome to change the layout as you like.
Section 3: FAQ
I have included four questions that are frequently asked on the ward. The four questions are: 'Can NSAIDs be used for asthma patients?', 'Are stomach medicines essential with NSAIDs?', 'Why does intravenous acetaminophen take 15 minutes?', and 'Which drugs require caution in patients with reduced renal function?'. I made this a separate section because I wanted the content to directly answer situations where staff are unsure how to judge, rather than just providing drug knowledge.
Section 4: Summary
I review the entire presentation using the two axes of 'drug selection' and 'safety management.' Since the amount of information can be high for a 20-minute training session, I have consolidated it into these two axes at the end to clarify the message for the audience to take home.
Usage Guide
When using as-is for a 20-minute training session
This assumes you will use all slides in sequence. The estimated time allocation is 3 minutes for Section 1 (Classification of pain), 10 minutes for Section 2 (Each drug), 5 minutes for Section 3 (FAQ), and 2 minutes for Section 4 (Summary). If you aim to speak for 1 to 2 minutes per drug slide, you will stay within the 20-minute limit.
When time is short (10–15 minutes)
You can shorten the time by narrowing down the drugs in Section 2 to those frequently used at your facility. For example, if you narrow it down to three drugs—acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and tramadol—you can finish in about 15 minutes. Gabapentinoids and duloxetine can be distributed as supplementary materials.
When extracting only the FAQ section for a mini-lecture
Since the four FAQ questions in Section 3 are independent, you can pick them out one by one for a 5-minute lecture during conferences or morning handovers. In particular, the flowchart for 'Can NSAIDs be used for asthma patients?' is highly practical even on its own.
When using for self-study by new pharmacists
Your understanding will be deepened if you read these slides while cross-referencing the guidelines listed in the references. In particular, the NSAIDs ulcer prevention flowchart in the 2020 Peptic Ulcer Clinical Practice Guidelines serves as the basis for the content of these slides, so checking it as well will be helpful for your studies.
Tips for Customization to Your Facility
Although these slides were created with general versatility in mind, adjusting them to fit your facility's situation will make the training session feel more relevant to the audience than using them as-is.
Replacing Adopted Drugs:The drugs covered here are basically those adopted at my facility. For example, if there are other drugs adopted as NSAIDs, or if Neurotropin is not adopted, you can simply replace the relevant slides with the drugs frequently used at your facility.
Confirming Dosages: The dosages for acetaminophen and tramadol are based on the package inserts, but please adjust them if your facility has its own protocols or prescription limits.
Adding/Replacing FAQs: I selected these four questions because they are frequently asked at my facility, but the frequently asked questions will surely differ depending on the facility. For example, replacing them with questions often asked at your own facility, such as 'How long should scheduled NSAID administration be continued postoperatively?' or 'How should celecoxib and loxoprofen be used differently?', will make for a more practical training session.
References
Chronic Pain Clinical Practice Guideline Working Group (Ed.). Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chronic Pain. Shinko Trading (Medical Book Publishing Department); 2021.
Japanese Society of Pain Clinicians Neuropathic Pain Pharmacotherapy Guideline Revision Working Group (Ed.). Neuropathic Pain Pharmacotherapy Guidelines, 2nd Revised Edition. Shinko Trading (Medical Book Publishing Department); 2016.
Japanese Society of Pain Clinicians Postoperative Pain Guideline Working Group (Ed.). Postoperative Pain Guidelines. 1st Edition. Bunkodo; 2025.
Japanese Society of Gastroenterology (Ed.). Peptic Ulcer Clinical Practice Guidelines 2020, 3rd Revised Edition. Nankodo; 2020.
Hisashi Date. Guidelines for the Use of Analgesics. In: Katsushi Takeshita (Ed.). Latest Guidelines for Musculoskeletal Practice, 2nd Edition. Sogo Igakusha; 2025: 65-68.
Kenya Ie (Ed.). Strengthening Symptomatic Treatment: How to Use Frequently Used Drugs and Non-Pharmacological Therapy. Kinpodo; 2025: 130-174.
Japanese Society of Nephrology Pharmacotherapy (Ed.). POCKET BOOK for Drug Dosage by Renal Function, 5th Edition. Jiho; 2024.
Package inserts and interview forms for each drug
Disclaimer
This article is a summary compiled for an individual pharmacist's study and training. While I have strived for accuracy, I do not guarantee that the information is up-to-date. Please always follow your facility's guidelines and the judgment of the attending physician for actual clinical practice and prescriptions.
Conclusion
If you have any impressions or questions after using the slides, please feel free to comment. Sharing how you used them at your facility is also very welcome, as it will serve as a reference for others to arrange them for their own facilities.
I plan to continue creating and publishing consolidated training materials like this, perhaps at a pace of about once every few months.
I would be happy if you read it again sometime.