The client asks the nurse what kind of over-the-counter medication she should have on hand for pain relief after she has a minor outpatient procedure

Question

The nurse tells the client that the doctor will likely prescribe an opioid analgesic for the first week, but the client says she does not want to take anything addictive. Which of the following is the best response by the nurse? 1. "Over-the-counter medications will not be strong enough to manage your pain."
2. "The pain from this surgery is excruciating, and you will need a strong medication."
3. "What concerns do you have about taking opioid medications?"
4. "You need to trust that the doctor knows what's best for you."

Answer 1

3
Rationale: The nurse would want to explore the client's reasons for not wanting to take an opioid medication and explain that taking an opioid medication for acute pain will not result in addiction. Telling the client an over-the-counter medication will be insufficient does not consider the client's pain tolerance or pain threshold. Telling the client that the pain is excruciating will increase the client's anxiety. Asking the client to trust the doctor removes the client from the decision making, and is never appropriate.