A client has terminal cancer. She is taking large doses of opiates to control pain. The nurse should:
a. inform the client to decrease drug dose to avoid drug addiction.
b. instruct the client to increase drug dose.
c. discontinue the client's opiates to avoid drug addiction.
d. allow the prescribed opiate dose unless drug toxicity occurs.
ANS: D
Patients with terminal disease may require large doses of pain medication to manage their pain. The priority in this case is managing the pain, not the potential for addiction.
You might also like to view...
A nurse is caring for a client admitted to the health care facility. The client is receiving a cholinergic blocking drug as treatment for bladder overactivity
Which intervention would be most appropriate for the nurse to include as part of the client's ongoing assessment? A) Assessment of the client's medical history B) Evaluation of symptoms related to the client's diagnosis C) Monitoring of the client's vital signs every 24 hours D) Observation for behavioral changes in the client
When entering the second phase of labor, a patient tells the nurse that the pain is severe and is unsure if pain medication should be used. Which nursing diagnosis should the nurse use to guide the care of the patient at this time?
A) Pain related to labor contractions B) Powerlessness related to the duration and intensity of labor C) Decision conflict related to the use of analgesia during labor D) Anxiety related to lack of knowledge about normal labor processes
Robin is a 42-year-old woman who is experiencing depression. Robin's mother died by suicide 20 years ago. Which of the following statements regarding Robin's risk for suicide is correct?
A) Robin's risk is equivalent to that of the general population. B) Robin has a greater risk for suicide than the general population. C) Robin's risk for suicide will increase when she reaches the age at which her mother died. D) Robin would have a greater risk for suicide if her father had died by suicide.
The nurse determines that a patient is experiencing common age-related changes in vision and hearing. What did the nurse assess in the patient? (Select all that apply.)
a. Presbycusis b. Yellowing of the lens c. Distorted depth perception d. Decreased lacrimal secretions e. Increased pupil size and response to light f. Loss of ability to hear low-frequency sounds