Question

A 63-year-old man has terminal cancer of the liver and is cared for by his wife at home. His abdominal pain has become increasingly severe, and he now says it is intense most of the time. Which of the following actions by the patient will the nurse recognize as evidence that teaching regarding pain management has been effective?

a. The patient limits the use of opiate analgesics to prevent addiction.
b. The patient resigns himself to the fact that pain is an inevitable consequence of cancer.
c. The patient uses pain medication only when the pain becomes more than he can tolerate.
d. The patient takes analgesics around the clock on a regular schedule, using additional doses for breakthrough pain.

Answer 1

The nurse will recognize that teaching regarding pain management has been effective when the patient takes analgesics around the clock on a regular schedule, using additional doses for breakthrough pain (option d).

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse will recognize that teaching regarding pain management has been effective when the patient takes analgesics around the clock on a regular schedule, using additional doses for breakthrough pain (option d). This demonstrates that the patient understands the need for proactive pain management and is taking the medications as prescribed to prevent intense pain from occurring. Limiting the use of opiate analgesics to prevent addiction (option a) is not an appropriate action as it disregards the patient's need for pain relief. Resigning oneself to the fact that pain is inevitable (option b) and using pain medication only when the pain becomes unbearable (option c) are also ineffective strategies for pain management.