The nurse is working in a pediatric surgical unit.In discussing ...

[EAugust]

The nurse is working in a pediatric surgical unit.In discussing patientcontrolled analgesia in a pre-op parental meeting,the nurse would explain that PCA is most appropriate for the
 
  1. developmentally delayed 16-year-old,postop bone surgery.
  2. 5-year-old,postop tonsillectomy.10-year-old who has a fractured femur and concussion from a bike accident.
  4. 12-year-old,postop spinal fusion for scoliosis.

Question 2

A 10-year-old has been receiving morphine every two hours for postoperative pain as ordered. The medication relieves the pain for approximately 90 minutes,and then the pain returns. The nurse should
 
  1. tell the child that pain medicationcannot be administered more frequently than every two hours.
  2. reposition the child and quietly leavethe room.
  3. inform the parents that the child isdependent on the medication.
  4. call the physician to see if the child'sorders for pain medication can be changed.

[xiaomengxian]

Answer to Question 1

Answer:4
Rationale:Patient-controlled analgesia is most appropriate in children 5 years and over. The child must be able to press the button and understand that she will receive pain medicine by pushing the button.PCA is generally prescribed for clients who will be hospitalized for at least 48 hours.Children who are developmentally delayed or have suffered head trauma would not be candidates for PCA.

Answer to Question 2

Answer:4
Rationale: The nurse has the responsibility of relieving the child's pain. The child has been receiving the prescribed medication on a regular basis. The physician should be called to see if the child's orders can be changed. This child might do well with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA).Oral medications such as acetaminophen and NSAIDs can be given with morphine to provide optimum pain relief.