Question

A hospice nurse is caring for a client who has cancer and is taking naproxen 250 mg three times daily PO and gabapentin 1,800 mg three times daily PO to manage pain. The client tells the nurse, "I'm having pain that keeps me from doing what I'd like most of the time." Which of the following additions should the nurse anticipate to the client's medication regimen?

A. Oral meperidine
B. Parenteral naloxone
C. Parenteral diazepam
D. Oral oxycodone

Answer 1

The nurse should anticipate the addition of oral oxycodone to the medication regimen for the client, as it is a stronger opioid used to manage moderate to severe pain and would be a suitable step up in pain management.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client has expressed that the current pain management regimen, which includes naproxen and gabapentin, is not providing adequate relief.

Given that these medications are not sufficiently controlling the client's pain, and considering they are already on a non-opioid anti-inflammatory (naproxen) and a nerve pain medication (gabapentin), the nurse should anticipate an addition of a stronger pain medication. Among the options provided:

• Oral meperidine: This is an opioid, but it is not the first choice for chronic pain due to its side effects.
• Parenteral naloxone: This is used to reverse the effects of opioids in case of overdose, not as a pain reliever.
• Parenteral diazepam: This is a benzodiazepine used for anxiety and muscle spasms, not typically used as a primary medication for cancer pain.
• Oral oxycodone: This opioid is often prescribed for moderate to severe pain and could be a suitable addition to the pain management regimen.

Therefore, the nurse should anticipate the addition of oral oxycodone to the client's medication regimen to provide more effective pain control.