A nurse manager is teaching a newly licensed nurse about pain management for an older adult client. Which of the following statements by the nurse indicates an understanding of the teaching?

Rationale:

A. Decreased creatine kinase-MB: CK-MB is a cardiac enzyme that rises within 4–6 hours of myocardial infarction and peaks around 24 hours. A decrease in CK-MB would not indicate acute myocardial injury and is not a diagnostic marker in this case.

B. Decrease in respiratory rate: A lower respiratory rate is not a typical or reliable indicator of myocardial infarction. Clients experiencing an MI are more likely to show signs of dyspnea, anxiety, or increased respiratory effort due to pain or decreased oxygenation.

C. ST segment depression: ST segment depression may indicate myocardial ischemia or a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), but it is less specific than biomarkers like troponin. It may also appear in other conditions such as angina or electrolyte imbalances.

D. Increased troponin I: Troponin I is a highly specific and sensitive cardiac biomarker that rises within 3–6 hours of myocardial injury. An elevated troponin I level 6 hours after the onset of chest pain strongly supports the diagnosis of myocardial infarction.

Rationale:

A. "Opioids should not be given to older adults.": Opioids can be given to older adults when necessary, but with caution. The dose may need adjustment due to age-related changes in metabolism and increased sensitivity, not outright avoidance.

B. "Pain perception is decreased in older adult clients.": Pain perception does not decrease with age. Older adults may have conditions that affect communication or cognition, but their ability to feel pain remains intact, and they can still experience significant discomfort.

C. "Older adults report pain less frequently than younger clients.": Older adults often underreport pain due to beliefs that pain is a normal part of aging or fear of treatment consequences. This makes active assessment and trust-building essential in managing their pain effectively.

D. "Older adults require higher doses of pain medication.": Older adults typically require lower or more carefully titrated doses due to slower metabolism, decreased renal clearance, and heightened drug sensitivity, especially to central nervous system effects.