Pain Management Nursing Practice Exam

When a postoperative client demonstrates potential drug abuse issues while requesting PRN opioids, the most appropriate action for the nurse is to ask the health care provider to validate drug abuse suspicions. This is vital because addressing potential substance abuse requires a multidisciplinary approach. It ensures that the client receives safe and appropriate pain management while minimizing the risk of escalating a potential addiction problem.

Involving the health care provider allows for a more comprehensive assessment of the situation and facilitates a discussion about the best treatment options available. This approach also helps to ensure that the client’s medical needs are met while addressing safety concerns related to opioid use.

Other options may not adequately address the complexities of managing pain in a client with a potential drug abuse history. Simply administering acetaminophen and spending extra time with the client does not comprehensively address their current pain management needs if they are genuinely in severe pain. It may also seem dismissive of their reported pain levels.

Explaining that opioids are reserved for moderate to severe pain may not be sufficient alone, as it could undermine the client's concerns without fully understanding their situation. Although providing the opioid based on the idea that the client deserves relief could momentarily alleviate pain, it does not take the potential for abuse into account and may place the client