Critical Care Nursing Cardiac Questions Related

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The nurse cares for a terminally ill patient who is experiencing pain that is continuous and severe. How should the nurse schedule the administration of opioid pain medications?

  • A. Give around-the-clock routine administration of analgesics.
  • B. Provide PRN doses of medication whenever the patient requests.
  • C. Offer enough pain medication to keep the patient sedated.
  • D. Suggest analgesic doses that provide pain control without decreasing respiratory rate.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Give around-the-clock routine administration of analgesics. This is the best approach for managing continuous and severe pain in a terminally ill patient. By providing scheduled doses of opioid pain medications, the nurse ensures a consistent level of pain relief, preventing peaks and troughs in pain control. This approach also helps in preventing the patient from experiencing unnecessary suffering.

Choice B (PRN doses) may lead to inadequate pain control as the patient may wait too long before requesting medication. Choice C (keeping the patient sedated) is not appropriate as the goal is pain management, not sedation. Choice D (balancing pain control and respiratory rate) is important, but the priority should be on effectively managing the pain first.