A nurse is consulting a pharmacological reference about medication compatibility prior to administering warfarin to a client.
Which of the following medications should the nurse identify as being incompatible with warfarin?

The correct answer is D.

Choice A reason: “A. Using this machine increases my risk of overdose.” This statement is incorrect because PCA pumps are designed with safety mechanisms to prevent overdose. The pump is programmed to deliver a specific dose of medication at set intervals, and it will not dispense more medication than what is prescribed by the healthcare provider.

Choice B reason: “B. I can get pain medication any time as long as I press the button.” While it is true that the patient can self-administer medication, PCA pumps have a lockout interval that prevents the machine from delivering another dose until a certain amount of time has passed, ensuring that the patient cannot receive medication too frequently.

Choice C reason: “C. My partner can press my pain medication button for me if I am sleeping.” This statement is incorrect. Only the patient should press the button on the PCA pump to ensure that the medication is administered safely and according to the patient’s current level of pain. Allowing someone else to press the button could lead to unsafe dosing.

Choice D reason: “D. I will receive a limited amount of pain medication when I press the button.” This is the correct statement. The PCA pump allows the patient to administer a controlled amount of pain medication within safe limits set by the healthcare provider. The pump is programmed to deliver a specific dose of medication, and there is a limit to the number of doses that can be administered per hour.

The correct answer is choice d.

Choice A rationale:

Washing the penis from scrotum to tip using a spiral motion can trap bacteria under the foreskin and increase risk of infection.

Choice B rationale:

Soap helps remove dirt and bacteria, reducing infection risk. Soapy water is preferred over plain water for perineal care.

Choice C rationale:

While hand hygiene is crucial, sterile gloves are not typically required for routine perineal care in an SCI patient unless there's a break in the skin or a high risk of infection.

Choice D rationale:

Discarding the washcloth after cleansing the urethral meatus is essential to prevent transferring bacteria to other areas.