Question

A 68-year-old client is admitted to the addiction unit after treatment in the emergency department for an overdose of oxycodone. Her son calls the unit and expresses intense anger that his mother is being treated as a "common street addict." He says she has severe back pain and was given that prescription by her health care provider (HCP). "She just accidentally took a few too many pills last night." Which reply by the nurse is most therapeutic?

-"I understand that your mother may not have intentionally taken too many pills. This medication can cause one to forget how many have been taken."
-"It may be appropriate for your mother to be referred to a pain management program."
-"Unfortunately, it is fairly common for clients with pain to increase their use of pain pills over time."
-"I can hear how upset you are. You sound very concerned about your mother."

Answer 1

The most therapeutic response is to acknowledge the son's concern for his mother, as emotions can run high during such health crises involving opioid misuse. Addressing his emotional state is key before any discussions on addiction and pain management treatment options.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best therapeutic response by the nurse would be, "I can hear how upset you are. You sound very concerned about your mother." This response acknowledges the son's emotions and provides validation without making assumptions about the mother's situation or challenging the son's beliefs about his mother's opioid use. While the son is not wrong to point out his mother's prescription and possible unintentional overdose, the broader context is that the opioid crisis has revealed how even prescription use can lead to dependency and dangerous usage patterns. Aggressive marketing of opioid drugs like Oxycodone has led to heightened addiction risks, and individuals can become habituated to opioids in less than a week, even when used as prescribed.

A shift towards pain management and addiction treatment is critical in combating this crisis. However, the nurse's immediate priority is to address the emotional distress of the family member and to offer support for his mother's care during this challenging time.