The family members of a dying patient are distressed at the patient's restlessness and lack of sleep. They ask the nurse to "just give her something." What response by the nurse is best?
a. Administer a sedative or hypnotic.
b. Tell the family she'll soon be sleeping enough.
c. Try nonpharmacologic comfort measures.
d. Explain that medications are not used in this case.
C
Nonpharmacologic comfort measures should be implemented first because of the erratic phar-macokinetics seen at the end of life. Drug responses and side effects vary widely and are difficult to control. If nonpharmacologic measures do not work, medications can be tried but must be monitored continuously.
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