Author Question: A nurse in a postoperative unit educates peers to overcome myths about pain in older adults. Which ... (Read 63 times)

DelorasTo · **on:** Jul 11, 2018

A nurse in a postoperative unit educates peers to overcome myths about pain in older adults. Which of the following statements by a peer most clearly warrants further teaching?

A) We have to be more conservative in the treatment of the older adults' pain than the younger clients.
B) Older adults have more health problems than younger people and this puts them at risk of experiencing pain.
C) The acute can turn into persistent pain if not treated thoroughly.
D) Older adults', even those with dementia, sense of pain is as strong as a younger person.

Question 2

A nurse is teaching an older adult about some of the risks associated with using opioid analgesics. Which of the following statements best demonstrates the individual has gained a sound knowledge base?

A) I know that if I become dependent on the drug, my doctor and I will come up with a plan to discontinue it.
B) I'll need to be careful that I don't become addicted to the drug over time.
C) If I do develop a tolerance to the drug, I can expect some withdrawal symptoms.
D) It sounds like I might have my dosages increased over time because of tolerance.

emilymalinowski12 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 11, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Ans: A
The statement that warrants more teaching is that their pain should be treated more conservatively than younger clients. Studies have found no age-related difference in appropriate doses of postoperative morphine. Multimorbidities and chronic health problems are associated with pain. Recent studies focused on the development of persistent postoperative pain, finding that its incidence can be reduced with the use of aggressive and early analgesic therapy. It is true that older adults have no age-related change in the sensation of pain.

Answer to Question 2

Ans: D
Tolerance denotes a decreased response to a drug over time, a fact that may necessitate an increase in drug dosage. Dependence on a drug's effects is not an indication that the drug necessarily needs to be discontinued, but rather that the drug is needed for living and that withdrawal symptoms would accompany cessation. Addiction is not a common result of opioid use, and clients should be made aware of that fact. Withdrawal symptoms are associated with dependence, not drug tolerance.