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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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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.

A. “I will change the patch every other day.” B. “I will apply the patch to a hairy area for better adhesion.” C. “I will remove the old patch before applying a new one.” D. “I will cut the patch in half if I need a lower dose.”.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The correct answer is choice C.The patient should remove the old patch before applying a new one to avoid overdose and adverse effects of fentanyl.Fentanyl patches are designed to deliver a constant amount of opioid analgesic over a period of time, usually 72 hours.

Therefore, changing the patch every other day (choice A) would result in inadequate pain relief and withdrawal symptoms.

Applying the patch to a hairy area (choice B) would interfere with the absorption of the drug and reduce its effectiveness.

Cutting the patch in half (choice D) would damage the integrity of the patch and cause erratic or rapid release of the drug, which could be fatal.Fentanyl patches should be applied to a clean, dry, hairless area of intact skin on the upper torso or upper arm.

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a patient who has been prescribed fentanyl patches for chronic cancer pain management at home. Which statement by the patient indicates that he understands how to use this medication safely?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed acetaminophen, a non-opioid analgesic, for mild pain. Which laboratory test result should the nurse monitor closely in this client?

A patient who is addicted to heroin is admitted to the hospital for treatment of an infection. The patient is prescribed methadone (Dolophine) as part of a detoxification program. What is the rationale for using methadone in this patient?

A nurse is caring for a client who has chronic hepatitis C and reports taking acetaminophen daily for headaches.The nurse should monitor the client for 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?

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 nurse is teaching a client who has chronic pain about nonpharmacological pain management techniques. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching? (Select all that apply.).

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.).