The nurse discharges a patient from the ambulatory surgical center with a prescription for an opioid analgesic. The patient can take the medication every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain

What does the nurse include in patient teaching about the prescription before discharging the patient? a. Take the medication for severe pain.
b. Use the medication to facilitate healing.
c. Wait 4 to 6 hours before taking the next dose.
d. Take every 4 to 6 hours until the bottle is empty.


C
The nurse instructs the patient to wait 4 to 6 hours between doses avoid serious effects of opioid analgesics, including respiratory depression. The nurse encourages the patient to take an analgesic when the pain is mild because the medication will be more effective. Opioids have little to do with healing; however, if the patient has a thoracotomy or an abdominal incision, opioid analgesia is usually needed to facilitate coughing and deep breathing.

Nursing

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A review of systems when assessing and taking the history of an older patient is particularly useful with an older adult because

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During an examination of the anterior thorax, the nurse is aware that the trachea bifurcates anteriorly at the:

a. Costal angle. b. Sternal angle. c. Xiphoid process. d. Suprasternal notch.

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A child is hospitalized with Ewings sarcoma. which assessment finding is consistent with this dx?

a. SOB b. bone pain and swelling c. bloody diarrhea d. ataxia and falls

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