A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching with client who has stable angina pectoris. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of what to do when chest pain occurs?

A) Patient care technician: While a patient care technician (PCT) is an important part of the healthcare team, their role generally focuses on providing direct patient care tasks such as monitoring vital signs, assisting with activities of daily living, and supporting the nursing staff. They do not have the expertise to address complex medication interactions, so they are not the appropriate referral in this scenario.

B) Psychologist: A psychologist focuses on providing mental health support, including therapy and counseling. While medication interactions may be of concern in patients receiving psychiatric medications, a psychologist does not typically have the medical knowledge to assess or manage pharmacological interactions. The nurse would not make a referral to a psychologist for this issue.

C) Social worker: Social workers are important for addressing the social and emotional needs of patients, including helping with care coordination, support, and resources. However, they are not trained to evaluate or address medication interactions. This issue would be outside of their scope of practice.

D) Advanced practice nurse: An advanced practice nurse (APN), such as a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist, has advanced training in diagnosing, managing, and prescribing medications. They are the most appropriate team member to assess the potential interactions of the client’s medications and make any necessary adjustments to their medication regimen. The nurse should refer the client to an APN for expertise in this area.

A) "My husband won't need medication for breakthrough pain while using music therapy."
This statement is incorrect. While music therapy can help reduce pain perception and provide comfort, it is not a replacement for medications, especially for breakthrough pain. Breakthrough pain may still occur, and medications are often needed to manage it. Music therapy can complement the use of pain medications, but it does not eliminate the need for them.

B) "Playing music will increase my husband's alertness."
This statement is not accurate. Music therapy may enhance relaxation, reduce anxiety, and help manage pain, but it is not generally used to increase alertness in terminally ill patients. In fact, some music therapy techniques may be calming and soothing, which could encourage rest rather than increasing alertness.

C) "I will discontinue music therapy when my husband is no longer responsive."
This statement is incorrect. Music therapy can still be beneficial even if the client becomes less responsive. In hospice care, music therapy is often used to provide comfort, promote relaxation, and offer emotional support, even for clients who are less alert or responsive. Discontinuing therapy may deprive the client of a source of comfort.

D) "Music will distract my husband's awareness of the pain."
This statement is correct. Music therapy can serve as a distraction and help reduce the client's perception of pain by focusing their attention away from discomfort. It can promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and alter the client's awareness of their pain, making it an effective complementary treatment for pain management in hospice care.