A nurse is planning to administer medications to a client who has trigeminal neuralgia.
Which of the following medications should the nurse plan to administer to manage the client's pain?

Choice Arationale:

Using PCA does not necessarily increase the client’s risk of toxicity. PCA allows the client to self-administer preset doses of pain medication, which can lead to better pain control with less risk of overdose.

Choice B rationale:

Diarrhea is not a common adverse effect of morphine. Constipation, not diarrhea, is a common side effect due to slowed gastrointestinal motility.

Choice Crationale:

Checking the client’s pain level every 8 hours is not sufficient when using PCA. Pain levels should be assessed more frequently, ideally before and after each administration of the medication. This allows for timely adjustments to the medication regimen if needed.

Choice D rationale:

Instructing the client’s visitors not to operate the PCA pump is crucial. Only the patient should administer doses to prevent overdose.

Choice A rationale:

Docusate sodium is a stool softener and does not have a direct effect on blood pressure. It is generally safe for individuals with hypertension.

Choice B rationale:

Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that can raise blood pressure or interfere with the effectiveness of some prescribed blood pressure medications. Therefore, it is contraindicated for clients with hypertension.

Choice C rationale:

Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor used to decrease stomach acid. It does not have a significant impact on blood pressure and is generally safe for individuals with hypertension.

Choice D rationale:

Guaifenesin is an expectorant used to thin mucus in the air passages. It does not have a significant impact on blood pressure and is generally safe for individuals with hypertension.