Ordered: Potassium chloride (K-Dur) 60 mEq

Available: Potassium chloride (K-Dur) 20 mEq/15 mL

Administer: _____mL

A. Change the plan of care to provide different pain relief interventions:

While changing the plan of care may be necessary, it should be based on a thorough reassessment. Simply changing the plan without understanding the reasons for inadequate pain relief may not lead to effective outcomes.

B. Reassess the client to determine the reasons for inadequate pain relief.

Reassessment is a crucial step in the nursing process, especially when the desired outcomes are not achieved. By reassessing the client, the nurse can identify any factors contributing to the inadequate pain relief. This might include reevaluating the effectiveness of the current pain relief interventions, ensuring proper administration of medications, considering changes in the client's condition, or exploring any new factors affecting pain.

C. Teach the client about the plan of care for managing his pain:

Teaching is an important aspect, but in this case, reassessment takes precedence. Once the reasons for inadequate pain relief are determined, teaching can be tailored to address specific needs.

D. Wait to see whether the pain lessens during the next 24 hours:

If the pain is not adequately controlled, waiting for another 24 hours without action may prolong the client's discomfort and delay appropriate interventions. Reassessment and prompt adjustments to the plan of care are crucial for effective pain management.

A. Redo the initial assessment and document current findings:

This option suggests repeating the entire initial assessment. While reassessment is important, redoing the entire initial assessment may not be necessary. Instead, a focused assessment on the specific area of concern (skin integrity) is more appropriate.

B. Perform and document a focused assessment of skin integrity:

This is the recommended choice. If unexpected findings are observed during care, such as reddened areas over bony prominences, it is important to conduct a focused assessment on the skin to identify any issues and document the findings accurately.

C. Correct the initial assessment form:

Simply correcting the initial assessment form may not address the immediate need for assessing and addressing the reddened areas. It is more crucial to perform a focused assessment on the skin.

D. Conduct and document an emergency assessment:

Reddened areas over bony prominences may not necessarily indicate an emergency. However, addressing the issue promptly is important. A focused assessment would be more appropriate than conducting a full emergency assessment.