Patient education on pain management is an often-neglected aspect of a pain management program. Educational programs for patients with cancer pain differ from those for patients with postoperative pain or chronic back pain. Recent programs focus on physicians and nursing in the role of educators. As the frontline in hands-on patient care, oncology nurses often play a significant role in achieving the goal of positive health outcomes by addressing challenges that inhibit effective patient-provider communication and education. Patient education alone cannot solve poor pain management practice, but poor patient education can certainly hinder effective strategies for obtaining pain relief. Patients must understand that controlling pain is not just a comfort measure but an important part of their recovery from illness. They should have an expectation of effective pain control. Knowing the physiological and psychological consequences of untreated pain can make patients more willing to request pain relief.