A patient has been treated with opioids for a year to manage back pain. After successful surgery, the patient's pain is greatly improved
The patient reports, "I stopped taking my pain medication when I got home from the hospital, but I got very sick with diarrhea and generalized pain." Se-lect the nurse's best response. a. "This is a common idiosyncratic effect. Over-the-counter antidiarrheals and non-steroidal agents will help you ride it out."
b. "Restart the pain medication. It is now required for life because you have toler-ance toward opioids."
c. "You are experiencing toxicity from the drugs used during the hospitalization and will need to be rehospitalized."
d. "Your reaction is associated with physical dependence on opioids. We will design a tapering dose schedule to avoid the withdrawal symptoms."
D
The patient is experiencing withdrawal from a dependence on opioids, and a tapering schedule must be instituted to prevent the symptoms.
The description by the patient is not indicative of an idiosyncratic effect.
Pain medication is not required lifelong; this will enhance the tolerance problem, not manage it.
The patient is not experiencing toxicity, but rather withdrawal symptoms.
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The nurse assesses for surgical wound infection particularly closely in the client who has undergone
a. craniotomy for tumor removal. b. hysterectomy. c. repair of a perforated bowel. d. tonsillectomy.
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The client is admitted to the acute care unit with a phosphorus level of 2.3 mg/dL. Which nursing intervention would support this client's homeostasis?
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