Question

The nurse who is a member of the palliative care team is assessing a patient. The patient indicates that he has been saving his PRN analgesics until the pain is intense because his pain control has been inadequate. What teaching should the nurse do with this patient?

a) Medication should be taken when pain levels are low so the pain is easier to reduce.
b) Pain medication can be increased when the pain becomes intense.
c) It is difficult to control chronic pain, so this is an inevitable part of the disease process.
d) The patient will likely benefit more from distraction than pharmacologic interventions.

Answer 1

The nurse should educate the patient to take PRN analgesics when pain levels are low for easier management and to prevent a more difficult pain control cycle. Non-pharmacological interventions and open communication with healthcare providers are also important for effective pain management.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient who has been saving his PRN analgesics for when the pain becomes intense is in need of proper pain management education. The nurse should teach that medication should be taken when pain levels are low so that the pain is easier to reduce and manage. This is because waiting until the pain is intense can make pain control more difficult and can lead to a cycle of pain that is harder to break. Additionally, when pain is less intense, smaller doses of medication may be effective, reducing the potential for side effects and the risk of addiction associated with stronger pain relievers such as opioids. The patient should also be informed that options for managing pain are not limited to pharmacological interventions and that a combination of methods, including relaxation therapy and cognitive-behavioral techniques, may be beneficial in controlling pain. It is important for the patient to communicate openly with the healthcare provider to adjust pain management strategies as needed.