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?
“I should drink plenty of fluids and eat high-fiber foods to prevent constipation.”
“I should avoid driving or operating heavy machinery while taking this medication.”
“I should take this medication only when I have severe pain that does not respond to other drugs.”
“I should report any signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, itching, or difficulty breathing.”.
The Correct Answer is C
The correct answer is choice C. The client should take this medication regularly as prescribed to maintain a steady level of analgesia and prevent breakthrough pain.
Taking the medication only when the pain is severe can lead to inadequate pain relief and increased side effects.
Choice A is wrong because drinking plenty of fluids and eating high-fiber foods can help prevent constipation, which is a common adverse effect of opioids.
Choice B is wrong because avoiding driving or operating heavy machinery is a safety precaution for clients taking opioids, as they can cause drowsiness and impaired judgment.
Choice D is wrong because reporting any signs of allergic reaction is an important instruction for clients taking any medication, especially opioids, which can cause severe hypersensitivity reactions.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
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Correct Answer is B
Explanation
The correct answer is choice B. Administer Percocet every six hours around the clock for two days.
This is because the patient has been receiving a continuous infusion of morphine via a PCA pump, which means that they have a steady level of opioids in their system.
If the PCA pump is discontinued abruptly and the patient is switched to oral analgesics PRN, they may experience withdrawal symptoms and inadequate pain relief.
Therefore, the patient needs to receive a scheduled dose of oral opioids for at least two days to prevent a sudden drop in opioid blood concentration and to maintain adequate analgesia.
After two days, the patient’s pain level and opioid requirement may be reassessed and the oral analgesics may be tapered or given PRN as needed.
Choice A is wrong because a higher dose of Percocet is not necessary if the patient reports satisfactory pain relief with the current PCA settings.The equivalent oral dose of morphine for the patient’s average PCA consumption is about 120 mg per day (20 mg x 6 doses), which is equivalent to about 80 mg of oxycodone per day (1.5 x 120 mg).
The prescribed dose of Percocet is 20 mg of oxycodone per day (5 mg x 4 doses), which is about 25% of the patient’s previous opioid requirement.This reduction is appropriate to account for incomplete cross-tolerance between different opioids.
Choice C is wrong because stopping morphine one hour before giving Percocet will not prevent a gap in analgesia.The half-life of morphine is about 2 to 4 hours, which means that it takes about 10 to 20 hours for morphine to be eliminated from the body.
Therefore, stopping morphine one hour before giving Percocet will not significantly reduce the morphine blood concentration and will not avoid the risk of additive effects or overdose.
Choice D is wrong because giving Percocet only if the patient reports breakthrough pain will not provide adequate pain relief for the patient who has been receiving a continuous infusion of morphine via a PCA pump.
The patient may experience withdrawal symptoms and increased pain sensitivity if the opioid blood concentration drops suddenly.
Therefore, the patient needs to receive a scheduled dose of oral opioids for at least two days to prevent a gap in analgesia and to allow a smooth transition from IV to oral opioids.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A) Respiratory rate: 10 breaths/min.This indicates that the patient may be experiencing respiratory depression, which is a serious adverse effect of buprenorphine and other opioids.
Respiratory depression can lead to hypoxia, brain damage, or death if not treated promptly.
The normal respiratory rate for adults is 12 to 20 breaths/min.
Choice B) Blood pressure: 110/70 mm Hg is wrong because this is within the normal range for adults, which is 90/60 to 120/80 mm Hg.Buprenorphine can cause hypotension as a side effect, but this is not evident in this case.
Choice C) Heart rate: 72 beats/min is wrong because this is also within the normal range for adults, which is 60 to 100 beats/min.Buprenorphine can cause bradycardia as a side effect, but this is not evident in this case.
Choice D) Temperature: 37°C is wrong because this is the normal body temperature for humans.Buprenorphine can cause hyperthermia as a side effect, but this is not evident in this case.
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