A nurse in a long-term care facility is reinforcing teaching about pain control with a client who has terminal cancer. Which of the following information should the nurse include?
Analgesia should be used around the clock to promote pain control.
Pain patches are applied each morning and removed at bedtime.
We will use intramuscular medications to control your pain.
A medication dose must be decreased if you develop tolerance.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason: Using analgesia around the clock is an appropriate action. The nurse should follow the principle of prevention rather than rescue when managing pain for a client who has terminal cancer. The nurse should administer analgesics on a regular schedule to maintain a steady level of pain relief and prevent breakthrough pain.
Choice B reason: Applying pain patches each morning and removing them at bedtime is not an appropriate action. The nurse should follow the manufacturer's instructions for applying and removing pain patches. Some patches are designed to be worn for 24 hours, while others are worn for 72 hours. Removing the patches too soon can cause inadequate pain control and withdrawal symptoms.
Choice C reason: Using intramuscular medications to control pain is not an appropriate action. The nurse should avoid using intramuscular route for administering analgesics to a client who has terminal cancer. Intramuscular injections are painful, unreliable, and increase the risk of infection and bleeding. The nurse should use oral, transdermal, or subcutaneous routes whenever possible.
Choice D reason: Decreasing a medication dose if the client develops tolerance is not an appropriate action. The nurse should understand that tolerance is a normal physiological response to long-term opioid use and does not indicate addiction or abuse. The nurse should adjust the medication dose according to the client's level of pain and response to treatment.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Applying restraints to the client is not an appropriate action, as it can cause injury or suffocation to the client during a seizure. The nurse should protect the client from harm by removing any nearby objects and padding the side rails.
Choice B reason: Administering an IV bolus of lorazepam is an appropriate action, as lorazepam is an anticonvulsant drug that can stop or shorten the duration of a seizure by enhancing the inhibitory effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain.
Choice C reason: Placing the client in the prone position is not an appropriate action, as it can obstruct the airway and cause respiratory distress or aspiration during a seizure. The nurse should place the client in the side-lying position to facilitate drainage of oral secretions and prevent tongue biting.
Choice D reason: Inserting a tongue blade into the client's mouth is not an appropriate action, as it can cause oral trauma or choking during a seizure. The nurse should never force anything into the client's mouth during a seizure and should allow them to breathe spontaneously.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Glucocorticoids are anti-inflammatory drugs that can increase blood glucose levels and worsen diabetes mellitus, which is a risk factor for stroke.
Choice B reason: HbA1c is a measure of average blood glucose levels over the past three months. A higher HbA1c level indicates poor glycemic control and increases the risk for stroke. The target HbA1c level for most people with diabetes mellitus is less than 7 percent.
Choice C reason: Having a high total cholesterol level is a risk factor for stroke, as it can lead to atherosclerosis and plaque formation in the blood vessels. The target total cholesterol level for most people is less than 200 mg/dL.
Choice D reason: Losing excess weight can lower blood pressure, improve blood glucose levels, and reduce inflammation, which are all beneficial for preventing stroke.
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