The use of PCA infusion pumps allows the patient to
a. act preemptively by administering a bolus of medication when pain begins.
b. choose between the use of opioids or NSAID medication to control pain.
c. decrease the risk of respiratory depression.
d. control pain medication in 2-hour increments.
A
The patient can self-administer a bolus of medication the moment the pain begins, acting preemptively. Allowing the patient to self-administer opioid doses does not diminish the role of the critical care nurse in pain management. The nurse advises about necessary changes to the prescription and continues to monitor the effects of the medication and doses. The patient is closely monitored during the first 2 hours of therapy and after every change in the prescription. If the patient's pain does not respond within the first 2 hours of therapy, a total reassessment of the pain state is essential. If the patient is pressing the button to bolus medication more often than the prescription, the dose may be insufficient to maintain pain control. Naloxone must be readily available to reverse adverse opiate respiratory effects.
You might also like to view...
The use of inappropriate, harmful, or destructive behaviors to express current or past emotions is defined as
1. anger. 2. assault. 3. acting out. 4. aggression.
A 5-year-old child has been admitted for complications related to asthma. When the nurse auscultates the child's lungs, she would anticipate hearing:
1. Wheezes because the bronchioles have been restricted. 2. Rhonchi because of thick secretions from the flare-up. 3. Crackles because there is fluid in the alveoli. 4. All of the above may be heard.
In the 1960s, a shortage of physicians occurred and there was a tendency for physicians to specialize. As this trend continued, a serious gap in primary health care services developed. Primary health care includes:
1. Primary health services and prison medicine services 2. Public health and primary care services 3. Family practice and geriatrics 4. Home health and school health
A client has been prescribed allopurinol (Zyloprim) for gout. The purpose of this medication is to:
1. relieve the inflammation caused by this disease process. 2. reduce the formation of uric acid. 3. help the body excrete excess uric acid. 4. prevent the joint damage associated with this disease.