A patient with chronic back pain is prescribed gabapentin as an adjuvant analgesic. The nurse should instruct the patient to report which of the following adverse effects?

The correct answer is choice A. Intensity.Intensity is one of the key components of pain assessmentand it is measured by asking a client to rate his or her current level of discomfort on a scale of 0-10.

This helps to quantify the severity of pain and monitor its changes over time.

Choice B. Quality is wrong because quality refers to the nature or characteristics of pain, such as burning, stabbing, throbbing, etc.It is usually assessed by asking the client to describe the pain in his or her own words.

Choice C.Onset is wrong because onset refers to the time when the pain started or what triggered it.It is usually assessed by asking the client about the mechanism of injury or etiology of pain, if identifiable.

Choice D.Duration is wrong because duration refers to how long the pain lasts or how often it occurs.It is usually assessed by asking the client about the course or temporal pattern of pain, such as constant, intermittent, or episodic.

The correct answer is choice B. Check the client’s allergy history.

This is because morphine sulfate is a medication that can cause severe allergic reactions in some people, such as anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening.

Therefore, the nurse should always check the client’s allergy history before administering any medication, especially opioids.

Choice A is wrong because assessing the client’s respiratory rate is not the first action the nurse should take.

Although morphine sulfate can cause respiratory depression, which is a serious side effect that needs to be monitored, the nurse should first ensure that the client is not allergic to the medication.

Choice C is wrong because reviewing the client’s medication record is not the first action the nurse should take.

Although morphine sulfate can interact with other medications, such as sedatives, antidepressants, or alcohol, which can increase the risk of respiratory depression or overdose, the nurse should first ensure that the client is not allergic to the medication.

Choice D is wrong because verifying the dosage with another nurse is not the first action the nurse should take.

Although morphine sulfate is a high-alert medication that requires double-checking to prevent medication errors, the nurse should first ensure that the client is not allergic to the medication.