Question

The patient is complaining of severe incisional pain 2 days after surgery. The patient has Morphine ordered intravenously or by mouth. The nurse chooses to give the medication orally. This is an example of:

A. decision making.
B. reasoning.
C. problem solving.
D. judgment.

Answer 1

The nurse's choice to give morphine orally to a patient with post-surgery incisional pain is an example of judgment, as it involves a considered decision regarding the patient's care.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's choice to administer morphine orally for a patient experiencing incisional pain after surgery can be categorized as judgment. This decision involves a clinical assessment of the patient's condition, the effectiveness of the pain relief options, potential side effects, and the absorption rates of medications given by different routes. By opting for oral administration, the nurse is using professional judgment to deliver care that is tailored to the patient’s current needs, assuming that the immediacy of pain relief is not as critical, or that the patient’s ability to absorb and respond to oral medication is adequate.