A client recovering from heart surgery develops pericarditis and reports level 6 (0 to 10 scale) chest pain with deep breathing. Which prescribed PRN medication will be the most appropriate for the nurse to give?

Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, the sac-like membrane surrounding the heart. It can cause chest pain, which is often worsened by deep breathing or coughing. The goal of treatment for pericarditis is to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

In this case, the client's pain level is reported as 6 out of 10. As per the PRN (as-needed) medication options given:

C) Oral ibuprofen (Motrin) 600 mg: Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain in cases of pericarditis. It is an appropriate choice for this client's pain level of 6 out of 10.

A) IV morphine sulfate 4 mg: IV morphine is a potent opioid analgesic and may be appropriate for severe pain. However, in this case, the client's pain level is moderate (6 out of 10), and it is not the first-line medication for pericarditis pain.

B) Oral acetaminophen (Tylenol) 650 mg: Acetaminophen is a mild analgesic and antipyretic that can be effective for mild to moderate pain. However, in this situation, the client's pain is moderate (6 out of 10), and acetaminophen alone may not provide adequate relief for pericarditis pain.

D) Fentanyl 1 mg IV: Fentanyl is another potent opioid analgesic. However, similar to morphine, it may be more appropriate for severe pain, not moderate pain like in this scenario.

Based on the client's pain level and the goal of reducing inflammation, the most appropriate PRN medication for the nurse to give is oral ibuprofen (Motrin) 600 mg.

In a patient with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), the priority nursing assessment is to auscultate lung sounds. ADHF is characterized by the sudden worsening of heart failure symptoms, which may include pulmonary congestion and fluid accumulation in the lungs. Assessing lung sounds helps to identify signs of pulmonary edema, which is a serious complication of ADHF.

The nurse should listen for crackles or rales, which are abnormal lung sounds caused by the presence of fluid in the alveoli. These findings suggest that the patient is experiencing fluid overload and inadequate gas exchange in the lungs. Prompt recognition of pulmonary edema allows for early intervention, such as administering diuretics or other medications, to relieve fluid overload and improve respiratory function.

While the other options (B) Facial swelling, (C) Level of anxiety, and (D) Intake and output, are important assessments in a patient with heart failure, they are not the priority in a patient with manifestations of acute decompensated heart failure. The priority is to assess for signs of respiratory

distress and pulmonary congestion, as these can quickly lead to respiratory failure and life threatening complications.