A hospice nurse is visiting with the son of a client who has terminal cancer.
The son reports sleeping very little during the past week due to caring for his mother.
Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

Choice A rationale:

Potato pancakes made from potatoes do not contain gluten, making them suitable for someone with celiac disease. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, so individuals with celiac disease must avoid foods containing these grains.

Choice B rationale:

Wheat crackers contain gluten and are not appropriate for someone with celiac disease. Avoiding gluten is crucial for individuals with this condition to prevent damage to the small intestine.

Choice C rationale:

White flour tortillas are typically made from wheat flour and contain gluten. Individuals with celiac disease should avoid products made from wheat flour to prevent adverse reactions.

Choice D rationale:

Canned barley soup contains barley, which is a gluten-containing grain. Individuals with celiac disease should avoid barley-based products as they contain gluten.

The correct answer is D.

Choice A reason: “A. Using this machine increases my risk of overdose.” This statement is incorrect because PCA pumps are designed with safety mechanisms to prevent overdose. The pump is programmed to deliver a specific dose of medication at set intervals, and it will not dispense more medication than what is prescribed by the healthcare provider.

Choice B reason: “B. I can get pain medication any time as long as I press the button.” While it is true that the patient can self-administer medication, PCA pumps have a lockout interval that prevents the machine from delivering another dose until a certain amount of time has passed, ensuring that the patient cannot receive medication too frequently.

Choice C reason: “C. My partner can press my pain medication button for me if I am sleeping.” This statement is incorrect. Only the patient should press the button on the PCA pump to ensure that the medication is administered safely and according to the patient’s current level of pain. Allowing someone else to press the button could lead to unsafe dosing.

Choice D reason: “D. I will receive a limited amount of pain medication when I press the button.” This is the correct statement. The PCA pump allows the patient to administer a controlled amount of pain medication within safe limits set by the healthcare provider. The pump is programmed to deliver a specific dose of medication, and there is a limit to the number of doses that can be administered per hour.