Care of the adult patient with neck pain

Neck pain among adults is a common issue seen by the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). It is important to carefully evaluate and classify neck pain. APRNs must evaluate patients with neck pain for the presence of red flags potentially signifying serious underlying pathology and refer as appropriate. Most cases of neck pain in the absence of red flags can be managed in a conservative manner. The APRN should be able to care for the patient in holistic manner as a part of an interprofessional team.