A physician has ordered intramuscular injections of morphine, a narcotic, every 4 hours as needed for pain for a motor vehicle accident victim. The nurse is aware that there is a high abuse potential for this drug, therefore, morphine is categorized as a:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Narcotics such as morphine are considered schedule II drugs because of the high abuse potential with severe dependence liability. Schedule I drugs have high abuse potential and no accepted medical use. Schedule III drugs have a lesser abuse potential than schedule II drugs and an accepted medical use. Schedule IV drugs have low abuse potential and limited dependence liability.