A patient reports significant pain level of 10 on a scale of 1 to 10 to the nurse who is caring for her on the night shift. The patient tells the nurse that she has been at this level since her surgery earlier in the day.
The nurse checks the medication administration record and notes that the patient received hydrocodone 7.5 milligrams/acetaminophen with 500 milligrams (Vicodin) every six hours. The nurse brings the patient one and one-half tablets. The patient says, I never took that. I only had one white pill. What action should the nurse take next?
A. Call the pharmacy and request that they send the dose in one tablet
C. Notify the supervisor of the situation
C. Confront the nurse from the previous shift regarding the patient's report
D. Call the physician and request a different narcotic analgesic
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a patient who has a malignant brain tumor. The patient has undergone several surgeries and radiation therapy to treat the tumor. The health-care provider recommends another surgery.
After the health-care provider leaves, the patient tells the nurse he does not want any more treatments. In the role of patient advocate, which action should the nurse take?
A. Indicate the patient's request in the plan of care
B. Suggest that the patient discuss the decision with the family and health-care provider
C. Remind the patient that this decision violates his religion
D. Tell the patient that he needs to think about this before making a decision
Neurological Flow Sheet, Including Glasgow Coma Scale
Positioning the Patient in the Supine Position
A physical therapist exercising the patient’s leg in a physical therapy department.
Various sites of referred pain.
Measuring the client’s weight with a standard platform scale
The pH scale: Acids, Bases, and Buffers and Body Fluids in Flux