An older adult who injured her knee several years ago tells the nurse that she has been managing the resulting intermittent pain with a prescription for an opioid analgesic.The nurse is concerned with this treatment plan,primarily because

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The nurse is concerned because long-term use of opioids for pain management can lead to dependence, addiction, and other adverse effects. The nurse should investigate alternative pain management strategies, possibly involving non-opioid medications or non-pharmacological interventions such as physical therapy or acupuncture. Simply assuming that aspirin would be as effective or that the knee should not still be causing pain is not appropriate without further assessment and evaluation.

An Older Adult Who Injured Her Knee Several Years Ago