The initial step to effect the safe management of mild to moderate acute pain that has not been controlled with over the counter medications is to:
a. Begin acetaminophen (Tylenol) every 4 hours for 24 hours
b. Sup-plement with non-pharmacological interventions
c. Ad-minister a single low dose of short acting opioid and monitor for relief
d. Titrate dosage of a short acting opioid upward over 24 hours to achieve relief
ANS: C
If pain continues, consider a single low-dose, short-acting opioid and observe effect. Acetaminophen is an over the counter analgesic and so its effect is already determined to be ineffective. Non-pharmacological interventions are only appropriate once pain management has been successfully implemented. Titrating dose upward is appropriate only after effects of initial dose have been determined.
You might also like to view...
A young woman has been in an automobile crash and sustained a laceration across the left side of her face, resulting in a large scar. What nursing diagnosis would be appropriate for this disfigurement?
A) Anxiety C) Deficient Knowledge B) Disturbed Body Image D) Impaired Memory
The nurse uses the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) to assess an older adult patient for depression. Which score range is considered normal?
1) 0-4 2) 5-8 3) 8-11 4) 12-15
A pregnant woman is flying across the country to visit her family. After teaching the woman about traveling during pregnancy, which statement indicates that the teaching was successful?
A) "I'll sit in a window seat so I can focus on the sky to help relax me." B) "I won't drink too much fluid so I don't have to urinate so often." C) "I'll get up and walk around the airplane about every 2 hours." D) "I'll do some upper arm stretches while sitting in my seat."
When applying restraints to a client who exhibits behavior that is dangerous to self and when other less-restrictive measures have not worked, the nurse must:
a. obtain a provider's order b. hold the client in time-out for at least an hour prior to applying restraints c. seek permission from the hospital administrator d. leave this work to the nurse assistants