Author Question: A client has been taking medication for back pain for several months, and has seen several different ... (Read 78 times)

mckennatimberlake · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

A client has been taking medication for back pain for several months, and has seen several different healthcare providers in efforts to receive pain medication. The nurse is concerned that the client is exhibiting:

1. Tolerance.
2. Addiction.
3. Physical dependence.
4. Pseudoaddiction.

Question 2

A client repeatedly asks the nurse How much longer until I can get more pain medication? Once the medication is provided, the client stops asking for it. The nurse identifies the client's behavior as being:

1. Addiction.
2. Tolerance.
3. Pseudoaddiction.
4. Physical dependence.

prumorgan · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: Tolerance is a state in which continued exposure to the medication causes changes that result in a reduction in the effectiveness of the medication over time.
Rationale 2: Addiction is characterized by the behaviors of compulsive use of pain medication, continued use despite harm, and craving.
Rationale 3: Physical dependence is a state of adaptation that manifests with withdrawal symptoms when the drug is stopped or drastically reduced.
Rationale 4: Pseudoaddiction is a condition that results from the undertreatment of pain where the client can become so focused on obtaining medications for pain relief that she becomes angry and demanding, might clock watch, and might otherwise seem inappropriately drug-seeking.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: Addiction is characterized by the behaviors of compulsive use of pain medication, continued use despite harm, and craving.
Rationale 2: Tolerance is a state in which continued exposure to the medication causes changes that result in a reduction in the effectiveness of the medication over time.
Rationale 3: Pseudoaddiction is a condition that results from the undertreatment of pain where the client can become so focused on obtaining medications for pain relief that he becomes angry and demanding, might clock watch, and might otherwise seem inappropriately drug-seeking. To differentiate between pseudoaddiction and addiction, if the client's negative behavior resolves when the pain is treated effectively, the client is exhibiting pseudoaddiction.
Rationale 4: Physical dependence is a state of adaptation that manifests with withdrawal symptoms when the drug is stopped or drastically reduced.