ATI Leadership Proctored Exam 2019 Related

Review ATI Leadership Proctored Exam 2019 related questions and content

A client is receiving pain medication through a PCA pump. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

  • A. Educate the family not to push the button for the client while the client is asleep.
  • B. Explain to the client that vital signs will be monitored regularly due to being on a PCA pump.
  • C. Instruct the client to push the button only when pain is above a 7 on a scale of 0 to 10.
  • D. Adjust the basal rate and decrease the lock-out interval time if the client's pain level is too high.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: When a client is receiving pain medication through a PCA pump, it is essential to adjust the settings if their pain level is not adequately controlled. Increasing the basal rate and shortening the lock-out interval time can help manage the client's pain more effectively. This adjustment should be made by the healthcare provider based on the client's pain assessment and response to the current settings. It is crucial to individualize the PCA pump settings to optimize pain management for each client. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because educating the family not to push the button, explaining vital sign monitoring, and setting a specific pain level for button pushing are not direct actions the nurse should take to adjust the PCA pump settings for effective pain management.