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 A rationale:

Asking the client to demonstrate dose delivery can be part of patient education and helps ensure that the client understands how to use the PCA device. This action does not require intervention.

Choice B rationale:

The nurse administering a PCA dose for the client requires intervention. PCA stands for “Patient-Controlled Analgesia,” meaning that only the patient should administer doses to themselves. This prevents overdosing and ensures that pain medication is administered according to the patient’s needs.

Choice C rationale:

Reassuring the client that the PCA device will not cause an overdose is appropriate because PCA devices are designed with safety measures to prevent overdosing.

Choice D rationale:

Monitoring for oversedation is an important part of care for a client using a PCA device. This action does not require intervention.

Choice A rationale:

“You must rinse your mouth out after each dose.” This is incorrect. Rinsing the mouth after each dose is usually recommended for inhaled corticosteroids, not oral prednisone.

Choice B rationale:

“You should take this medication on an empty stomach.” This is incorrect. Prednisone should be taken with food to prevent stomach upset.

Choice C rationale:

“You should take a calcium supplement while taking this medication.” This is correct because long-term use of prednisone can lead to bone loss (osteoporosis) Taking a calcium supplement can help protect bone health.

Choice D rationale:

“You can expect some weight loss with this medication.” This is incorrect. Weight gain, not weight loss, is a common side effect of long-term prednisone use.