A client in the surgical recovery area asks the nurse to bring the largest possible dose of pain medication available. Which action should the nurse implement first?

Ask the client to rate the current level of pain using a pain scale.

Encourage the client to use diversional thoughts to manage pain.

Review the history for a past use of recreational drugs.

Determine when the last dose was administered.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A rationale; When a client requests pain medication, the first action the nurse should take is to assess the client's current pain level. By using a pain scale, the nurse can determine the intensity of the pain and evaluate the need for pain medication appropriately. The pain scale allows the client to express their pain on a standardized scale, helping the nurse to understand the severity of the pain and the most appropriate pain management intervention.

Choice B rationale: While diversional thoughts and non-pharmacological pain management techniques can be useful, the priority is to first assess the pain level and address the client's immediate needs for pain relief.

Choice C rationale: While it's important to consider the client's history of drug use, it is not the first action to take when a client requests pain medication. Assessing the pain level and providing appropriate pain relief should be the initial priority.

Choice D rationale: While it's essential to know the last dose of pain medication the client received, it is not the first action to take when the client is requesting pain medication. Assessing the current pain level and addressing the client's immediate needs should be the first step. The information about the last dose will be relevant for deciding when the next dose can be given.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A rationale: This option is not appropriate as increasing saturated fat intake would exacerbate the oily stool and flatus symptoms caused by orlistat. Orlistat is specifically designed to reduce fat absorption, and increasing fat intake would be counterproductive and may worsen the side effects.

Choice B rationale: Asking a client to describe their dietary intake history is a standard practice in nutritional assessment. It provides a baseline for understanding current eating habits and identifying areas for improvement.

Choice C rationale: Advising a client to stop taking medication should only be done by a qualified healthcare provider who has full knowledge of the client's health history and current medications.

Choice D rationale: While obtaining a stool specimen for evaluation might be relevant in some situations, it is not the priority in this case. The oily stools and flatus are most likely related to the side effects of orlistat and do not typically require stool testing for confirmation. The more immediate action would be to address the symptoms by advising the client to stop taking the medication and contact her healthcare provider for further guidance.

A. Assess the client for side effects of carbamazepine. B. Notify the healthcare provider of the carbamazepine level. C. Administer the carbamazepine as prescribed. D. Withhold this dose of the carbamazepine.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

a) Assess the client for side effects of carbamazepine:

This option might seem reasonable as monitoring for side effects is essential with any medication, especially one with a narrow therapeutic range like carbamazepine. However, the client's level of 8.4 mcg/L is within the therapeutic range (4 to 12 mcg/mL), so there's no immediate indication that side effects are likely to occur solely based on this level.

b) Notify the healthcare provider of the carbamazepine level:

While it's important to keep the healthcare provider informed about the client's condition, in this case, the carbamazepine level is within the therapeutic range. There's no urgent need to notify the provider unless there are other concerning factors not mentioned in the scenario.

c) Administer the carbamazepine as prescribed:

This is the correct answer. The client's morning carbamazepine level of 8.4 mcg/L falls within the therapeutic range (4 to 12 mcg/mL). Therefore, the evening dose should be administered as prescribed to maintain therapeutic levels and control the client's condition.

d) Withhold this dose of the carbamazepine:

Withholding the dose based solely on the morning carbamazepine level of 8.4 mcg/L, which is within the therapeutic range, would not be appropriate. Withholding the dose without consulting the healthcare provider could potentially lead to suboptimal management of the client's condition.

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A client in the surgical recovery area asks the nurse to bring the largest possible dose of pain medication available. Which action should the nurse implement first?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

After taking orlistat for one week, a female client tells the home health nurse that she is experiencing increasingly frequent oily stools and flatus. Which action should the nurse take?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Prior to administering the evening dose of carbamazepine, the nurse notes that the client's morning carbamazepine level was 8.4 mcg/L (35.6 mcmol/L). Which action should the nurse take? Carbamazepine level [Reference Range: 4 to 12 mcg/mL or 16.9 to 50.8 mcmol/L]

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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