A Patient Recovering from Surgery for a Ruptured Appendix Yesterday

question 39

Multiple Choice

A patient recovering from surgery for a ruptured appendix yesterday has an order for morphine 4 mg q 6 hours prn.Every 5 hours and 55 minutes,the patient puts on the call light and asks for the morphine.A staff member comments that the patient is drug-seeking.Which action by the nurse is most appropriate first?

• A) Administer the morphine every 4 hours instead of every 6 hours.
• B) Explain to the staff member that labeling the patient as drug seeking is inappropriate.
• C) Consult with the RN or physician about ordering a higher or more frequent dose of morphine.
• D) Explain to the patient that weaning off the morphine as soon as possible is essential to reduce the risk of addiction.

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Definitions:

Sympathy

Feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune.

Buffering

The technique of starting a message with neutral or positive information before delivering bad news or sensitive information.

Bad-News Message

Communication designed to relay unfavorable or disappointing information in a sensitive and understanding manner.

Anticipate Future Relations

The act of predicting and preparing for potential future interactions with others.