The client arrives at the emergency room following a sexual trafficking incident. She is experiencing significant pain but has difficulty swallowing pills. The provider prescribes 15 mL of Codeine with acetaminophen oral elixir to be taken by mouth once.

Pharmacy Formulary

Codeine with acetaminophen oral elixir available:

2.4 mg/mL of codeine

24 mg/mL of acetaminophen

Complete the following sentence using the drop-down options. The client is prescribed

___i__

mL of codeine and acetaminophen elixir. She will receive

___ii___

  mg of codeine and

____iii___

mg of acetaminophen based on the formulary concentration.

A. Passage of fetal tissue – This finding is more consistent with an incomplete or complete abortion, not a threatened abortion.

B. Bright red vaginal bleeding – A threatened abortion involves vaginal bleeding during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, often bright red in color. The cervix remains closed, and fetal cardiac activity may still be present.

C. Severe cramping and pelvic pain – Severe pain is more typical of an inevitable or incomplete abortion rather than a threatened abortion.

D. Closed cervix upon examination – In a threatened abortion, the cervix remains closed. If the cervix opens, the risk of progressing to an inevitable abortion increases.

E. Mild to moderate lower abdominal cramping – Mild cramping or lower abdominal discomfort is common in a threatened abortion due to uterine contractions. However, severe cramping and passage of fetal tissue would indicate a more advanced pregnancy loss.

A. Slurred speech – Slurred speech may indicate systemic absorption of the epidural medication, leading to toxicity or excessive central nervous system depression, which requires immediate intervention.

B. Respiratory depression – A serious complication of epidural anesthesia is respiratory depression, which may result from excessive medication spread, affecting respiratory function. Immediate intervention is required.

C. Decreased sensation in the lower extremities – This is an expected effect of an epidural and does not necessarily require immediate reporting unless it extends beyond expected levels.

D. Sustained fetal heart rate of 150 bpm – This fetal heart rate is within the normal range (110-160 bpm) and does not indicate distress.

E. Blood pressure 108/62 – While hypotension can be a side effect of epidural anesthesia, this blood pressure is within an acceptable range for many clients and does not require immediate intervention unless the client is symptomatic.