Question

A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has a hip fracture and is rating her pain at 8 on a 0 to 10 scale. Which of the following medications should the nurse administer?

A) Ibuprofen

B) Acetaminophen

C) Meperidine

D) Morphine

E) Naproxen

Answer 1

For severe pain rated 8/10 from a hip fracture in an older adult, the nurse should administer morphine, an opioid that provides significant pain relief.

Step-by-step explanation:

For an older adult client who is rating their pain at 8 on a 0 to 10 scale due to a hip fracture, the nurse should consider administering morphine. Morphine is an opioid analgesic that is commonly used to alleviate severe pain, including post-surgical pain and severe fracture pain. While medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen are also pain relievers, in this case, the intensity of the pain calls for a stronger medication. Morphine acts on the central nervous system to relieve pain and is often used in hospital settings for significant pain relief after surgery or significant injury like a hip fracture. It is essential to manage pain effectively in older adults to facilitate recovery and improve comfort.