Which is the most appropriate nursing diagnosis for a patient who has a severe right-sided stroke with left-sided hemiplegia? The patient uses the right extremities well but does not realize that the left arm and leg even exist.

Choice A reason: This is incorrect. The PCA will not give additional pain medication whenever the button is pushed. The PCA is programmed to deliver a specific dose of pain medication at a specific interval. If the button is pushed before the interval is over, the PCA will not release any medication. This is to prevent overdose and side effects.

Choice B reason: This is incorrect. The PCA will not deliver medication through the IV until the pain is all gone. The PCA is designed to provide pain relief, not pain elimination. The PCA has a limit on how much medication it can deliver in a certain period of time. The patient may still have some pain even after using the PCA.

Choice C reason: This is correct. You or a designated family member are the only one who gets to push the PCA button-nobody else may do so. The PCA is intended to give the patient control over their pain management. The patient should push the button when they feel pain, not when someone else thinks they need it. Allowing others to push the button can lead to under- or over-medication, which can be harmful.

Choice D reason: This is incorrect. Wait until the pain becomes severe before pushing the PCA button is not a good instruction. The PCA is more effective when the patient pushes the button before the pain becomes too intense. Waiting too long can make the pain harder to control and require more medication. The patient should use the PCA as needed to keep the pain at a tolerable level.

Choice A reason: This is the correct choice because melatonin is the safest sleep aid for the elderly patient with insomnia. Melatonin is a natural hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. It has few side effects and interactions, and does not cause dependence or withdrawal. Melatonin can improve the quality and duration of sleep, and reduce the time to fall asleep.

Choice B reason: This is an incorrect choice because temazepam is not the safest sleep aid for the elderly patient with insomnia. Temazepam is a benzodiazepine that enhances the activity of GABA, a neurotransmitter that inhibits brain activity. It has many side effects and interactions, and can cause dependence, tolerance, or withdrawal. Temazepam can also impair cognitive and motor functions, and increase the risk of falls, fractures, and delirium.

Choice C reason: This is an incorrect choice because trazodone is not the safest sleep aid for the elderly patient with insomnia. Trazodone is an antidepressant that blocks the reuptake of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and sleep. It has many side effects and interactions, and can cause orthostatic hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias, priapism, or serotonin syndrome. Trazodone can also impair cognitive and motor functions, and increase the risk of falls, fractures, and delirium.

Choice D reason: This is an incorrect choice because triazolam is not the safest sleep aid for the elderly patient with insomnia. Triazolam is a benzodiazepine that enhances the activity of GABA, a neurotransmitter that inhibits brain activity. It has many side effects and interactions, and can cause dependence, tolerance, or withdrawal. Triazolam can also impair cognitive and motor functions, and increase the risk of falls, fractures, and delirium.