Level: Clinical
Difficulty: Medium
Subtopic: Opioids and pain medications
NCLEX: A 55-year-old client in postanesthesia care is being evaluated for opioid analgesia after surgery. Assessment dat…
Pharmacology Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
Case Study
A 55-year-old client in postanesthesia care is being evaluated for opioid analgesia after surgery. Assessment data include the barcode scanner shows a medication-client mismatch at the bedside. Which intervention best reduces the client's risk of complications?
Question
A. Restrict all movement without individualized assessment.
B. Delay teaching until the day of discharge only.
C. Identify risk early, implement prevention measures, teach warning signs, and plan timely reassessment.
D. Ignore small changes until they become severe.
B. Delay teaching until the day of discharge only.
C. Identify risk early, implement prevention measures, teach warning signs, and plan timely reassessment.
D. Ignore small changes until they become severe.
Rationale
Correct answer: C. Identify risk early, implement prevention measures, teach warning signs, and plan timely reassessment.
Rationale: Risk reduction focuses on early identification, prevention, teaching, and reassessment rather than unnecessary restriction or delay.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.
Rationale: Risk reduction focuses on early identification, prevention, teaching, and reassessment rather than unnecessary restriction or delay.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.