Chapter 15: Opioid Analgesics PrepU

A 57-year-old client is given morphine for myocardial ischemic pain. The nurse needs to monitor the client frequently for which adverse effect?

Decreased respiratory rate

Tylenol #3 consists of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and another medication. What is the other medication?

Codeine

The nurse works in a long-term care facility. When administering narcotics to clients, the nurse must monitor for which side effect?

Constipation

A client has been administered an opioid. For which effect should the client be assessed?

Hypotension

Which is true in regard to patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)?

Many postoperative clients require less opioid when PCA is used

A 62-year-old client admitted to the hospital is reporting pain. The provider has prescribed 3 mg hydromorphone SC. The medication is available in single-use vials of 10 mg/1mL. How many mL of hydromorphone should the nurse draw up to administer?

0.3ml

When evaluating the plan of care for a client receiving opioid analgesics for pain management, the nurse considers the plan successful when what occurs?

1. Therapeutic response is achieved and discomfort is reduced. 2. An adequate breathing pattern is maintained. 3. Client maintains adequate nutritional status.

The nurse should monitor the client more frequently and notify the physician if the client's respiratory rate falls below how many breaths per minute while taking an opioid analgesic?

10 breaths/min

A client's healthcare provider has prescribed meperidine 75 mg PO q4h PRN for the client's chronic pain. What education should the nurse provide to this client reagarding this medication?

"Avoid drinking alcohol while taking meperidine."

A nurse has entered a client's room at the beginning of a shift to quickly assess the clent's airway, breathing, circulation, and consciousness. The nurse observes that the client is wincing, stating, " Oh, I am in so much pain right now." What initial question should the nurse ask this client?

"Where exactly are you hurting?"

The client has been diagnosed with a mild sprain in his left ankle. He has been taking acetaminophen and is currently rating his pain as 2-3 on a 0-10 scale ("0" indicating no pain). According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) analgesic protocol, what level (step) of pain control is the client demonstrating?

Step 1

In chronic pain clients, opioids are most effective:

When given on a regular schedule, around the clock.

A hospital client's pain is rated at 9/10 and the nurse is preparing to administer 4 mg hydromorphone PO as prescribed. Before administering the medication, the nurse should:

assess the client's baseline respiratory rate.

A trauma client has been receiving frequent doses of morphine in the 6 days since his accident. This pattern of analgesic administration should prompt the nurse to carefully monitor the client's what?

bowel patterns.

While studying pharmacology, the nursing student learns that a naturally occurring narcotic drug with analgesic and antitussive effects is:

codeine.

A nurse is caring for a 49-year-old client in the intensive care unit. The client was in a motor vehicle accident and is in severe pain. The client has been given morphine. After 2 days in the unit, the nurse can detect nasal congestion when the client speaks to her. The nurse will monitor for which?

pneumonia.

The male client states that he does not have a back injury and that it is his leg that hurts. He feels every one is not listening to him. What is the best response by the nurse?

"Sometimes when there is nerve damage, it shows up as pain in a different part of the body."

A client's post-surgical pain is severe and persistent. The client states that recent doses of morphine IV have "helped only a little bit." The client has a PRN dose of morphine available, and wants to receive the medication. The client's respiratory rate is 14 breaths per minute. What is the nurse's best action?

Administer the morphine as prescribed and monitor the client's respiratory status closely

A class of new nursing students is learning how to administer medications to clients. What should the instructor teach the students about giving opiates?

Assess the respiratory rate before giving a dose of opiates.

A 30-year-old male client has been ordered Demerol 100 mg IM every 4 hours for 2 days after a fractured femur. What action should the nurse take?

Give the medication as ordered