A patient has achieved pain control with an oral opioid and is tolerant of its sedative effects but is having severe constipation. The nurse has contacted the healthcare provider about prescribing a different opioid. What should the nurse anticipate regarding the new drug?
1. The new opioid will be administered by the intravenous route.
2. There will be an increased need to observe the patient for sedation.
3. The starting dose of the new medication will be lower than the equianalgesic dose of the original medication.
4. It will be necessary to add an adjuvant medication to achieve equal pain control.
5. The newly prescribed medication will be a pure opioid agonist.
2, 3
You might also like to view...
The nurse is administering a purified protein derivative (PPD) test to a homeless client. Which of the following statements concerning PPD testing is true?
a. A positive reaction indicates that the client has active tuberculosis (TB). b. A positive reaction indicates that the client has been exposed to the disease. c. A negative reaction always excludes the diagnosis of TB. d. The PPD can be read within 12 hours after the injection.
Before administering a prescribed antipsychotic drug to a client, the nurse observes the client for any behavior patterns that appear to be deviations from normal. Which of the following would the nurse identify as a deviation? Select all that apply
A) Poor eye contact B) Monotone speech pattern C) Inappropriate laughter D) Failure to answer questions completely E) Inappropriate crying
The nurse is offering a refresher class on the immune system to a group in the community. Which statement about the comparison between natural and acquired immunity best demonstrates understanding?
a. Acquired immune responses are nonspecific. b. Individuals are born with specific acquired immunity to most antigens. c. Only natural immunity processes occur in response to antigens. d. Specific acquired immunity occurs only after exposure to a foreign substance.
Which symptom in an infant may indicate a possible food allergy?
a. Taking small amounts at feedings b. Stuffy nose and breathing difficulties c. Spitting up after a feeding d. Constipation