Question

A nurse is collecting data on a client who is postoperative and reports acute pain of 8 on a 0 to 10 pain scale. After reporting the findings to the provider, the nurse should anticipate a prescription for which of the following medications?

A. Morphine 30 mg PO every 4 hr PRN
B. Morphine 30 mg PR every 4 hr PRN
C. Morphine 5 mg IM every 4 hr PRN
D. Morphine 5 mg IV intermittent bolus every 4 hr PRN

Answer 1

The nurse should anticipate a prescription for Morphine 5 mg IV intermittent bolus every 4 hr PRN, due to the rapid onset associated with intravenous administration and the patient's report of acute pain intensity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should anticipate a prescription for morphine, which is an opioid medication commonly used to manage acute pain, especially postoperatively. Given that the patient reports acute pain of 8 on a 0 to 10 scale, a strong analgesic is warranted. Morphine can be administered in different forms including orally (PO), rectally (PR), intramuscularly (IM), or intravenously (IV). Considering the severity of pain, intravenous administration is typically preferred for its rapid onset of action. Therefore, the nurse should anticipate the prescription for option D: Morphine 5 mg IV intermittent bolus every 4 hr PRN (as needed). This method allows for quick management of pain and the ability to adjust the dosage as required to maintain adequate pain control.