Question

One day after having a cesarean birth, a client complains of incisional pain that she rates as a 3 on a 1-to-10 scale, with 10 representing the most severe pain. The physician prescribed ibuprofen (Motrin), 400 mg by mouth every 4 to 6 hours, as needed. Which intervention should the nurse take when administering this drug?

a) Administer with a full glass of water and food
b) Encourage the client to avoid all oral intake with the medication
c) Administer the medication only if the pain is rated as 6 or higher
d) Offer the medication every 2 hours for optimal pain control

Answer 1

The nurse should administer ibuprofen with a full glass of water and food to prevent stomach irritation, following the prescribed dosage of every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain. It is not advisable to wait until the pain is rated as 6 or to offer the medication every 2 hours.

Step-by-step explanation:

When administering ibuprofen (Motrin), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), to a client after a cesarean birth, the appropriate nursing intervention is a) Administer with a full glass of water and food. This helps to prevent stomach irritation that can be caused by NSAIDs. It is important to follow the physician's prescription, which in this case recommends the medication every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain. Since the client rates the pain as 3, it falls within the 'as needed' criterion for pain management, and it is unnecessary to wait until the pain is rated 6 or higher. Also, it's crucial to not exceed the prescribed frequency of administration, hence offering the medication every 2 hours is inappropriate and may lead to overdose. Avoiding all oral intake with the medication is not recommended, as taking ibuprofen with food can minimize potential gastrointestinal side effects.