The nurse enters a room just as a patient's daughter pushes the button of his intravenous (IV) patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. Which response by the nurse is appropriate?
a. "Thanks for helping out your dad. Is he too weak to push the button?"
b. "If you need to push the button for your dad, first be sure his respiratory rate is higher than 10."
c. "It is dangerous for anyone but your dad to push the button. Remind him to push it himself if he needs it."
d. "It is against hospital policy for anyone but the patient to push the button. If I see you pushing it again, I will have to call the supervisor."
ANS: C
No one should push the button except the patient. PCA is safe if it is controlled by the patient and appropriately monitored. Family members can help by reminding their loved one to use the PCA if they think the person is in pain. A. B. The safety of IV PCA is affected if someone other than the patient administers the dose. D. Admonishing the daughter is unnecessary—she needs to be educated, not scolded.
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