The nurse is conducting a pain assessment of a 10-year-old boy who has been taking acetaminophen for chronic knee pain. The assessment indicates that the recommended dose is no longer providing adequate relief. What is the appropriate nursing action?
A) Increase the dosage of the acetaminophen.
B) Tell the child he is experiencing the ceiling effect.
C) Use guided imagery to help his pain.
D) Obtain an order for a different medication.
Ans: D
Increasing the dose of the acetaminophen will not help his pain because he has reached as high a dose of that medication that will work. This is known as the ceiling effect, but explaining that to him will not help his pain. Guided imagery is not the best therapy for his pain, so the physician needs to order a different medication to manage his pain.
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