A nurse is preparing to administer an enteric-coated oral medication to a client who is having difficulty swallowing.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Choice Arationale:

Using PCA does not necessarily increase the client’s risk of toxicity. PCA allows the client to self-administer preset doses of pain medication, which can lead to better pain control with less risk of overdose.

Choice B rationale:

Diarrhea is not a common adverse effect of morphine. Constipation, not diarrhea, is a common side effect due to slowed gastrointestinal motility.

Choice Crationale:

Checking the client’s pain level every 8 hours is not sufficient when using PCA. Pain levels should be assessed more frequently, ideally before and after each administration of the medication. This allows for timely adjustments to the medication regimen if needed.

Choice D rationale:

Instructing the client’s visitors not to operate the PCA pump is crucial. Only the patient should administer doses to prevent overdose.

Choice Arationale:

Aspiration (pulling back on the syringe before injection) is not recommended when administering enoxaparin. This could cause bruising.

Choice Brationale:

You should not massage the site following the injection as this could cause bruising.

Choice Crationale:

With enoxaparin and other low molecular weight heparins, you do not need to expel the air bubble before injecting the medication. The air bubble ensures that all the medication is delivered.

Choice D rationale:

Enoxaparin should be injected into abdominal tissue. This helps ensure proper absorption and reduces the risk of bruising.