A nurse is caring for a patient who reports pain in his left leg that he rates as an 8 on a scale from 0 to 10 and states that he feels tingling and numbness in his toes.

The patient has an order for morphine sulfate 2 mg IV bolus PRN every two hours for pain greater than 7, last administered three hours ago, and ibuprofen 400 mg PO PRN every four hours for pain less than or equal to 7, last administered six hours ago.

What action should the nurse take first?

Administer morphine sulfate 2 mg IV bolus.

Administer ibuprofen 400 mg PO.

Assess the patient’s leg for circulation, sensation, and movement.

Reassess the patient’s pain in 15 minutes.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

The correct answer is choice C. Assess the patient’s leg for circulation, sensation, and movement.

This is because the patient’s symptoms of pain, tingling, and numbness in his left leg could indicate a potential complication of impaired blood flow or nerve damage after surgery. The nurse should prioritize assessing the patient’s leg for any signs of compromised circulation, sensation, or movement before administering any pain medication.

Choice A is wrong because administering morphine sulfate 2 mg IV bolus without assessing the patient’s leg could mask the symptoms of a serious problem and delay appropriate interventions. Morphine sulfate is a potent opioid analgesic that can cause respiratory depression, sedation, and constipation.

Choice B is wrong because administering ibuprofen 400 mg PO without assessing the patient’s leg could also mask the symptoms of a serious problem and delay appropriate interventions. Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, renal impairment, and increased risk of cardiovascular events.

Choice D is wrong because reassessing the patient’s pain in 15 minutes without assessing the patient’s leg could result in the worsening of the patient’s condition and increased risk of complications. The nurse should not delay assessing the patient’s leg for any signs of impaired circulation, sensation, or movement.

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Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The correct answer is choice A. Serum calcium.Etidronate is a bisphosphonate that inhibits bone resorption and reduces the risk of skeletal complications in patients with cancer-related bone pain.However, it can also cause hypocalcemia (low serum calcium levels) as a side effect, which can lead to muscle spasms, numbness, tingling, seizures, and cardiac arrhythmias.

Therefore, the nurse should monitor the patient’s serum calcium levels regularly and supplement with calcium and vitamin D if needed.

Choice B. Serum potassium is wrong because etidronate does not affect potassium levels.Potassium is mainly regulated by the kidneys and can be altered by renal impairment, dehydration, acid-base imbalance, or medications such as diuretics or potassium-sparing agents.

Choice C. Serum creatinine is wrong because etidronate does not affect creatinine levels.

Creatinine is a waste product of muscle metabolism that is excreted by the kidneys.It reflects the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and can be elevated in renal dysfunction or dehydration.

Choice D. Serum albumin is wrong because etidronate does not affect albumin levels.

Albumin is a protein that is synthesized by the liver and helps maintain fluid balance and transport substances in the blood.It can be decreased in liver disease, malnutrition, inflammation, or protein-losing conditions.

A. Monitor the patient’s vital signs regularly. B. Encourage fluid intake and high-fiber foods. C. Advise the patient to avoid alcohol and other CNS depressants. D. Instruct the patient to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for breakthrough pain. E. Teach the patient how to use a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump.

Correct Answer is ["B","C"]

Explanation

The correct answer is choice B and C.Oxycodone (OxyContin) is a potent opioid analgesic that can causeconstipation,drowsiness,nausea,pruritus, andvomitingas common side effects.

To prevent constipation, the patient should be encouraged to drink plenty of fluids and eat high-fiber foods.To prevent respiratory depression and sedation, the patient should be advised to avoid alcohol and other CNS depressants while taking oxycodone.

Choice A is wrong because monitoring vital signs regularly is not specific to oxycodone use, but rather a general nursing intervention for any patient with chronic pain.

Choice D is wrong because acetaminophen (Tylenol) can interact with oxycodone and increase the risk of liver damage.

The patient should not take any other pain medications without consulting the prescriber.

Choice E is wrong because a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump is not used for long-term pain management, but rather for acute or postoperative pain.Oxycodone (OxyContin) is formulated as an extended-release tablet that provides sustained pain relief for up to 12 hours.

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Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A patient with cancer-related bone pain is receiving etidronate as an adjuvant analgesic. The nurse should monitor the patient for which of the following laboratory values?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A patient who has chronic low back pain is prescribed oxycodone (OxyContin) for long-term use. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement to prevent complications from this medication? (Select all that apply.)

Correct Answer is ["B","C"]

Explanation

The primary health care provider instructs the nurse to obtain the patient’s pain level every four hours. Which actions by the nurse help facilitate the pain assessment? Select all that apply.

A patient with chronic back pain is prescribed gabapentin as an adjuvant analgesic. The nurse should instruct the patient to report which of the following adverse effects?

A nurse is caring for a client who has a sickle cell crisis and is receiving morphine via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. Which assessment finding indicates that the PCA pump is effective?

A nurse is teaching a client who has cancer pain about the use of oral oxycodone with acetaminophen (Percocet). Which statement by the client indicates a need for further teaching?

(Select all that apply) A patient with postoperative pain is prescribed hydroxyzine as an adjuvant analgesic. The nurse should teach the patient about which of the following benefits of this medication.

A nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a client who takes acetaminophen for osteoarthritis pain management.Which of the following findings should alert the nurse to possible hepatotoxicity? (Select all that apply.).

A client with osteoarthritis has been prescribed celecoxib (Celebrex). The nurse should instruct the client to report which of the following adverse effects immediately?