A client with metastatic cancer who was taking hydromorphone PO at home is now receiving the medication IV while in the hospital. To evaluate if the client is receiving an equianalgesic dose of the hydromorphone, which assessment should the nurse complete?

Client Statement: A. The client seems unemotional when talking about needing to rebuild her house.

Suppression fits here because the client appears detached or unemotional when discussing the significant emotional task of rebuilding her house after it collapsed. This suggests a deliberate effort to suppress or minimize the emotional impact of the situation.

Client Statement: C. The client discusses moving to Hawaii instead of returning to rebuild her house.

The client's discussion of moving to Hawaii instead of facing the reality of rebuilding her house reflects a form of fantasy. It suggests a retreat into an idealized scenario (moving to a distant, idyllic location) to avoid dealing directly with the trauma and stress associated with rebuilding her home.

Client Statement: B. The client says that she sometimes forgets why she is in the hospital.

Isolation can be inferred here because the client's statement about forgetting why she is in the hospital may indicate a psychological distancing or detachment from the traumatic events that led her there. It suggests a coping mechanism where she separates her emotional distress (related to the house collapse) from the practical reality of being hospitalized and receiving treatment.

Client Statement: D. The client is frightened that the hospital will burn down.

This statement fits into the defense mechanisms of fantasy. The client encounters thoughts of the hospital burning and her house burns down.

Rationale

A. JVD is typically an indicator of increased central venous pressure and can be associated with heart failure or fluid overload. In this scenario, flat JVD suggests decreased venous return, which may exacerbate the client's hypotension. While important, it may not be the most immediate concern compared to other options.

B. Changes in consciousness, such as confusion, disorientation, or loss of consciousness, are critical signs that indicate poor cerebral perfusion. In this case, the rapid ventricular rate and possibly inadequate cardiac output may not be meeting cerebral perfusion needs, leading to altered mental status. This finding requires urgent attention to prevent further deterioration.

C. Nausea and vomiting can indicate inadequate perfusion to the gastrointestinal tract due to hypotension or impaired cardiac output. While important to assess for fluid and electrolyte balance, it is less urgent compared to potential changes in mental status or perfusion to vital organs.

D. A sudden onset headache can be indicative of various issues, including hypertension, cerebral ischemia, or intracranial hemorrhage. However, in the context of atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response and hypotension, other neurological signs such as altered mental status or focal neurological deficits would typically be more concerning.