The healthcare provider has ordered 5 mg morphine intravenously for pain control. At home, the client takes 30mg of morphine sulfate by mouth twice daily. The client asks the nurse why they are receiving such a small dose. What is the best response by the nurse?

A) "I know it is really busy but I do not have time to help you either. I have my own clients.": While it may be tempting to express frustration due to being busy, this response lacks professionalism and does not address the situation appropriately. As healthcare professionals, it is important to communicate effectively and collaborate with colleagues to ensure safe patient care, even when busy. Instead, the nurse should express the need to follow protocols while offering help in a safe manner.

B) "Are you sure the doctor ordered that much morphine? It seems like a lot to give all at once.": Although questioning the dosage is part of safe nursing practice, this response is unnecessary in this situation. If there is a concern about the prescribed amount of morphine, it should be verified with the healthcare provider. However, this question does not directly address the issue of administering the medication safely. It also does not ensure that the nurse is following correct protocols for preparing and administering medication.

C) "I can give your client their pain medications, but I need to draw up and prepare it myself.": This response is the most appropriate because it ensures the nurse is adhering to safe medication administration practices. The nurse should always prepare and administer medications themselves to verify the correct dosage, route, and patient. Allowing another nurse to prepare medication and administering it without proper verification can lead to medication errors. This response also shows willingness to help while maintaining safety standards.

D) "Sure thing, give me that syringe and I will give it for you while you are on break.": This response is inappropriate because it involves accepting medication from another nurse without verifying that the correct drug, dose, and preparation have been followed. It is unsafe to administer medications prepared by others without reviewing the medication and ensuring that everything is accurate. Nurses must always prepare and administer their own medications to prevent potential medication errors.

A) Problems that cause severe discomfort to the client: While addressing discomfort is important in providing holistic care, it is not the highest priority in nursing. The nurse’s primary focus should be on life-threatening issues or those that could deteriorate the client’s condition rapidly. Severe discomfort can be managed once immediate threats to life are addressed.

B) Problems the client deems most important: Although it’s essential to consider the client’s perspective and involve them in their care plan, problems that are most important to the client may not always be the most urgent or life-threatening. For example, the client may prioritize pain management, but addressing life-threatening issues must always take precedence.

C) Problems that are immediately life-threatening for the client: This is the correct answer. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and the nursing prioritization framework, life-threatening problems should always be the nurse's first priority. These are issues that, if not addressed immediately, can lead to death or severe complications. For instance, airway obstruction, severe bleeding, or shock would require immediate intervention.

D) Problems that are identified as priority by the physician: While the physician’s orders and priorities should be taken into consideration, the nurse must independently assess and prioritize care based on the overall health status of the client. This includes using clinical judgment to identify life-threatening conditions, even if they are not explicitly stated in the physician’s orders. Nurses are trained to identify priority issues through their assessments and are responsible for making decisions that ensure the client’s safety.