Question

9.Which of the following statements made by the patient indicates to the nurse that teaching on a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device has been effective?

A. "This is the only pain medication I will need to be on."
B. "I can administer the pain medication as frequently as I need to"
C. "I feel less anxiety about the possibility of overdosing."
D. "I will need the nurse to notify me when it is time for another dose."

Answer 1

The correct statement that shows the patient understands how to use a PCA device is, "I can administer the pain medication as frequently as I need to." This acknowledges the self-administering feature and safety limits of the PCA device.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement indicating that effective teaching on a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device has been provided is: "I can administer the pain medication as frequently as I need to." This reflects an understanding of the purpose and function of the PCA device as it allows patients to manage their pain by self-administering a controlled amount of analgesic medication. The PCA is set up with safety constraints to avoid overdosing, typically allowing a dose every certain amount of time, such as one dose per hour, which matches the concept of a fixed interval reinforcement schedule. As for the other options, A is incorrect because PCA is usually one of the pain relief methods and patients might need additional medication as prescribed. C reflects an advantage but does not display understanding of the PCA device's functionality. D is incorrect because the PCA is designed for the patient to self-administer medication without waiting for a nurse's notification.