Author Question: A patient has been taking intramuscular (IM) meperidine 75 mg every 6 hours for 3 days after ... (Read 23 times)

jasdeep_brar · **on:** Jul 24, 2018

A patient has been taking intramuscular (IM) meperidine 75 mg every 6 hours for 3 days after surgery.

When the patient is discharged from the hospital, the primary care NP should expect the patient to receive a prescription for _____ mg orally every _____ hours. a. hydrocodone 30; 6
b. hydrocodone 75; 6
c. meperidine 300;12
d. meperidine 75; 6

Question 2

A patient comes to the clinic several days after an outpatient surgical procedure complaining of swelling and pain at the surgical site. The primary care NP notes a small area of erythema but no abscess or induration. The NP should:

a. prescribe TMP-SMX.
b. prescribe topical mupirocin four times daily.
c. suggest that the patient apply warm soaks three times daily.
d. refer the patient to the surgeon for further evaluation.

briezy · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 24, 2018

Answer to Question 1

A
When patients are switched from one opiate to another, an equianalgesic table should be used to convert the dosage of the current drug to the equivalent dosage of the new drug. An oral dose of 30 mg of hydrocodone is equivalent to an IM dose of 75 mg of meperidine.

Answer to Question 2

A
This patient has cellulitis, so empirical treatment with TMP-SMX is indicated. Topical mupirocin is used for superficial skin infections, not cellulitis. Warm soaks may be used as an adjunct to antimicrobial treatment. Unless the cellulitis becomes worse, it is not necessary to refer the patient to the surgeon.