The physician orders 4 mg of oxycodone to be delivered every 6 hours. After 4 hours, the patient is complaining that she is in more pain. The nurse advises the physician to make which medication adjustment?
a. Add an additional narcotic on top of the oxycodone.
b. Divide the dose in half and administer 2 mg every 3 hours.
c. Give another 4 mg of oxycodone after 4 hours.
d. Change the medication being administered for pain relief.
B
The patient's metabolism causes the peak effect to occur when the medicine is at its highest concentration. After reaching its peak, the serum concentration of the medication falls progressively. By spreading out the dose, the patient should receive constant pain relief. Changing the medication, increasing the dose, or adding another medication is not the best course of action.
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An LVN/LPN works on a very busy 35-bed medical-surgical unit. The RN team leader gives her a syringe with "pain medication" in it and asks the LPN/LVN nurse to administer this medication to a patient. What should be the nurse's first action?
a. Assist the team leader by giving the medication as requested for this time only. b. Administer the medication this time because it is an emergency. c. Take time and prepare the medication herself and give as prescribed. d. The LVN/LPN doesn't have to do anything; it is not her patient.
When describing drugs that block or inhibit the sympathetic nervous system, the nurse includes which of the following? Select all that apply
A) Antiadrenergic drugs B) Adrenergic blocking drugs C) Adrenergic stimulating drugs D) Adrenergic drugs E) Sympatholytics
Which postoperative order does the nurse clarify with the surgeon before discharging the client who just had arthroscopic surgery on the right knee?
a. Keep the right leg elevated on a soft pil-low for 12 hours. b. Maintain non–weight bearing by right leg for 48 hours. c. Use ice on the knee for 24 hours. d. Administer two tablets of oxyco-done/APAP (Tylox) every 4 hours for pain.
What is the most important information concerning elimination to assess for the client who is to undergo rehabilitation?
A. What was the client's usual bowel elimination pattern before the injury or illness? B. Does the client have at least one bowel movement each day? C. Can the client transfer from the wheelchair to the toilet? D. Does the client have diarrhea?