How can a nurse facilitate effective client education for pain management?

A. A history of substance use disorder can be a barrier to effective pain management because clients may underreport pain, fear addiction, or experience stigma, and clinicians may underprescribe analgesics due to concern about misuse. Recognizing this barrier is important to provide balanced, safe, and effective pain control.
B. Clear communication facilitates accurate pain assessment and is not a barrier; it supports effective pain management.
C. Using a standardized pain scale helps quantify pain and track response to interventions, improving management rather than hindering it.
D. A client’s willingness to communicate pain levels is essential for effective assessment and is not a barrier; it enhances the nurse’s ability to provide appropriate interventions.

A. Use salt substitutes while taking this medication: Salt substitutes often contain potassium, and captopril (an ACE inhibitor) can increase serum potassium levels, which raises the risk of hyperkalemia.

B. Captopril should be taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals to ensure proper absorption and maintain optimal blood pressure control.

C. Weight gain is not a typical side effect of captopril; instead, clients should monitor for signs of fluid retention or edema, which could indicate heart failure.

D. Expect a dry cough when taking this medication: While a dry cough is a common side effect of captopril, clients should report it to their provider, as it may require switching to another antihypertensive (such as an ARB). It should not be presented as something to simply “expect and accept.”