Question

The nurse assesses Mr. Jones' current level of pain and finds that it is back to an 8 on a 1 to 10 scale. He describes the pain in his left knee as "stabbing and angry." Which prescribed pain medication should you administer to Mr. Jones?

A. aspirin
B. morphine
C. ibuprofen
D. hydromorphone

Answer 1

For Mr. Jones' severe pain described as an 8 out of 10, an opioid such as morphine or hydromorphone might be necessary and most appropriate to administer under strict medical supervision.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that Mr. Jones describes his pain as 'stabbing and angry' and rates it as an 8 on a 1 to 10 scale, we need to assess the appropriate medication to administer. Acetaminophen would be the first step, but if this is not sufficient, NSAIDs like ibuprofen might be considered. However, due to the high level of pain described, an opioid pain reliever such as hydromorphone or morphine might be necessary.

These opioids are strong pain relievers typically prescribed for moderate to severe pain, especially when other medications have failed to provide relief. Given the intensity of the pain, Mr. Jones may require one of these opioids, but this should be under strict medical supervision to mitigate risks of addiction and other serious side effects.