A nurse assesses a postoperative patient 2 days after chest ...

[Yolanda]

A nurse assesses a postoperative patient 2 days after chest surgery. What findings indicate that the patient requires better pain management (select all that apply)?
 
  a. Confusion d. Shallow breathing
  b. Hypoglycemia e. Elevated temperature
  c. Poor cough effort

Question 2

Which nursing action could the nurse delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) when caring for a patient who is using a fentanyl (Duragesic) patch and a heating pad for treatment of chronic back pain?
 
  a. Check the skin under the heating pad.
  b. Take the respiratory rate every 2 hours.
  c. Monitor sedation using the sedation assessment scale.
  d. Ask the patient about whether pain control is effective.

[anoriega3]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A, C, D, E
Inadequate pain control can decrease tidal volume and cough effort, leading to complications such as pneumonia with increases in temperature. Poor pain control may lead to confusion through a variety of mechanism, including hypoventilation and poor sleep quality. Stressors such as pain cause increased release of corticosteroids that can result in hyperglycemia.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Obtaining the respiratory rate is included in UAP education and scope of practice. Assessment for sedation, pain control, and skin integrity requires more education and scope of practice.

[Yolanda]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it

[xthemafja]

Excellent