A patient who had a motor vehicle crash 2 days ago is experiencing pain and is receiving patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Which assessment finding indicates effective pain management with the PCA?
The patient has sufficient medication left in the PCA syringe.
The patient is sleeping and is difficult to arouse.
The patient rates pain at a level of 2 on a 0 to 10 scale.
The patient presses the control button to deliver pain medication.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A reason: Sufficient medication in the PCA syringe does not indicate effective pain management. It may reflect underuse due to inadequate pain control or patient misunderstanding of PCA use. Pain relief is assessed by patient-reported outcomes, not medication volume remaining.
Choice B reason: Sleeping and being difficult to arouse suggests oversedation, a potential adverse effect of PCA, particularly with opioids. This indicates excessive dosing rather than effective pain management, risking respiratory depression or other complications, requiring immediate dose adjustment or monitoring.
Choice C reason: A pain rating of 2 on a 0 to 10 scale indicates effective pain management. PCA allows patients to self-administer doses within safe limits, achieving low pain levels without excessive sedation, reflecting optimal balance of analgesia and patient safety post-trauma.
Choice D reason: Pressing the PCA button shows patient engagement but not pain control effectiveness. Frequent pressing may indicate inadequate relief, while infrequent use could reflect sufficient control or misunderstanding. Patient-reported pain levels are the primary indicator of PCA efficacy.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is common due to gut flora disruption, often benign or linked to Clostridium difficile. This statement aligns with expected side effects, requiring monitoring but not immediate further questioning compared to persistent symptoms.
Choice B reason: Green colostomy output can result from dietary changes (e.g., green vegetables) or medications. This is a normal variation and does not warrant urgent questioning unless accompanied by systemic symptoms like fever or pain.
Choice C reason: Strong-smelling liquid stool for several days suggests potential infection, malabsorption, or inflammatory conditions (e.g., C. difficile, colitis). Persistent symptoms warrant further questioning to assess duration, associated symptoms, and risk factors for serious pathology.
Choice D reason: Black, thick stool is a known side effect of ferrous sulfate due to iron oxidation in the gut. This is benign and expected, not requiring further questioning unless other symptoms like bleeding are present.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Cranberry juice typically causes pink or reddish urine, not orange. Orange urine is more commonly linked to medications, dehydration, or liver issues. Asking about cranberry juice is less relevant, as it does not directly address the most likely causes of orange discoloration.
Choice B reason: Medications like rifampin, phenazopyridine, or certain vitamins (e.g., B vitamins) can cause orange urine due to their pigments or metabolites excreted renally. Inquiring about new medications is a targeted approach to identify a common, benign cause before escalating to invasive diagnostics.
Choice C reason: Immediately scheduling an appointment assumes a serious condition without exploring benign causes like medications or dehydration. This response may cause unnecessary alarm and overlooks a systematic assessment, which could resolve the issue through history-taking alone.
Choice D reason: Blood in urine (hematuria) typically causes red or brown discoloration, not orange. Asking about blood is less relevant to orange urine and may confuse the patient, as it does not align with the reported symptom’s likely etiology.
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