Author Question: An older client who refuses medication for pain is irritable and unable to sleep. What should the ... (Read 153 times)

nenivikky · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

An older client who refuses medication for pain is irritable and unable to sleep. What should the nurse explain to the client to encourage the use of pain medication?

1. There are high-dose medications that will eradicate the pain.
2. The lack of pain control is causing the inability to sleep.
3. The lack of pain control is causing irritability.
4. The risks of taking pain medication are low in the older population.
5. The lack of pain control will affect mobility and activity tolerance.

Question 2

A client recovering from hip surgery is reluctant to ambulate because of the amount of pain that occurred with walking prior to the surgery. What can the nurse do to help this client with pain control?

1. Provide pain medication before every ambulation session.
2. Address the client's fear of pain with walking.
3. Tell the client that the pain is now gone.
4. Explain that the client is confusing postoperative pain with the pain before the surgery.

Jadwiga9 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 2, 3, 5
Rationale 1: When planning pharmacologic intervention for an older client, the approach should be to start low and go slow because of the effects on renal and liver function.
Rationale 2: If pain is not effectively controlled in the older client, the ability to sleep will be affected.
Rationale 3: If pain is not effectively controlled in the older client, irritability can occur.
Rationale 4: When planning pharmacologic intervention for an older client, the nurse must assess the client for potential risks because of changes in organ and system functioning.
Rationale 5: If pain is not effectively controlled in the older client, mobility and activity tolerance will be affected.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: The client may not be prescribed pain medication before every ambulation session.
Rationale 2: Nurses can use the gate control theory to stop nociceptor firing by applying topical therapies and addressing the client's mood to reduce fear and anxiety.
Rationale 3: The nurse needs to do more than tell the client that the pain is gone.
Rationale 4: The client does not appear to be confused between the postoperative pain and the pain before the surgery.