Level: Clinical
Difficulty: Medium
Subtopic: Opioids and pain medications
NCLEX: A 72-year-old client in a long-term care facility is being evaluated for opioid analgesia after surgery. Assessme…
Pharmacology Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
Case Study
A 72-year-old client in a long-term care facility is being evaluated for opioid analgesia after surgery. Assessment data include the client reports dizziness, blood pressure 92/58 mm Hg, and heart rate 118/min after the morning dose. The nurse is evaluating discharge teaching. Which client statement shows correct understanding?
Question
A. "I will stop my medications when I feel better."
B. "I do not need to report mild symptoms unless they become unbearable."
C. "I will call the nurse if I have new or worse symptoms before my follow-up appointment."
D. "The nurse does not need to know about changes unless the provider asks."
B. "I do not need to report mild symptoms unless they become unbearable."
C. "I will call the nurse if I have new or worse symptoms before my follow-up appointment."
D. "The nurse does not need to know about changes unless the provider asks."
Rationale
Correct answer: C. "I will call the nurse if I have new or worse symptoms before my follow-up appointment."
Rationale: Effective teaching includes when to seek help for worsening symptoms. Stopping medications or delaying reports are unsafe.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.
Rationale: Effective teaching includes when to seek help for worsening symptoms. Stopping medications or delaying reports are unsafe.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.