Question

A patient who had knee surgery received intramuscular ketorolac (Toradol) 30 minutes ago and continues to complain of pain at a level of 7 (0 to 10 scale). Which action is best for the nurse to take at this time?

a. Administer the prescribed PRN IV morphine sulfate.
b. Notify the health care provider about the ongoing knee pain.
c. Reassure the patient that postoperative pain is expected after knee surgery.
d. Teach the patient that the effects of ketorolac typically last about 6 to 8 hours.

Answer 1

The best action for the nurse to take is to administer the prescribed PRN IV morphine sulfate.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best action for the nurse to take in this situation is to administer the prescribed PRN IV morphine sulfate (option a). Intramuscular ketorolac (Toradol) is a non-opioid pain medication, and if the patient is still experiencing pain at a level of 7 on a 0 to 10 scale, it indicates that the medication may not be providing adequate relief. IV morphine sulfate is a strong opioid pain medication that can be used to alleviate severe pain.

Option b, notifying the health care provider, may be appropriate if the pain persists even after the administration of IV morphine sulfate. Option c, reassuring the patient, is not the best course of action as the patient's pain needs to be addressed. Option d, teaching the patient about the duration of ketorolac, is not necessary in this immediate situation.