Author Question: A student nurse asks why several clients are getting more than one type of pain medication instead ... (Read 58 times)

serike · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

A student nurse asks why several clients are getting more than one type of pain medication instead of very high doses of one medication. What response by the registered nurse is best?

a. A multimodal approach is the preferred method of control.
b. Doctors are much more liberal with pain medications now.
c. Pain is so complex it takes different approaches to control it.
d. Clients are consumers and they demand lots of pain medicine.

Question 2

A nurse on the medical-surgical unit has received a hand-off report. Which client should the nurse see first?

a. Client being discharged later on a complicated analgesia regimen
b. Client with new-onset abdominal pain, rated as an 8 on a 0-to-10 scale
c. Postoperative client who received oral opioid analgesia 45 minutes ago
d. Client who has returned from physical therapy and is resting in the recliner

Ahnyah · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Pain is a complex phenomenon and often responds best to a regimen that uses different types of analgesia. This is called a multimodal approach. Using this terminology, however, may not be clear to the student if the terminology is not understood. Doctors may be more liberal with pain medications, but that is not the best reason for this approach. Saying that clients are consumers who demand medications sounds as if the nurse is discounting their pain experiences.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Acute pain often serves as a physiologic warning signal that something is wrong. The client with new-onset abdominal pain needs to be seen first. The postoperative client needs 45 minutes to an hour for the oral medication to become effective and should be seen shortly to assess for effectiveness. The client going home requires teaching, which should be done after the first two clients have been seen and cared for, as this teaching will take some time. The client resting comfortably can be checked on quickly before spending time teaching the client who is going home.