The nurse is evaluating a patient 2 hours after giving a dose of 30 mg of codeine with acetaminophen for postoperative pain following abdominal surgery. The patient reports a pain level of 7 on a scale of 1 to 10. The patient is not satisfied with their current level of pain relief. The nurse notes a heart rate of 110 beats per minute, a respiratory rate of 28 breaths per minute, and a blood pressure of 180/90 mm Hg. Which action will the nurse take?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

CThe patient's report of significant pain (7 out of 10) despite receiving codeine with acetaminophen suggests that a stronger analgesic or an additional analgesic may be needed. Option D, requesting an order for oxycodone with acetaminophen (Percocet), is appropriate because oxycodone is a stronger opioid analgesic than codeine and may provide better pain relief. Option C, contacting the provider to ask if a dose of ibuprofen may be given now, is also appropriate because ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can be used in combination with opioids and acetaminophen to provide additive pain relief, especially for inflammatory pain, without increasing opioid-related side effects. Administering the next dose of codeine early (Option A) or increasing the codeine dose (Option B) without consulting a provider could be unsafe due to the risk of overdose and increased side effects.

The Nurse Is Evaluating a Patient 2 Hours After Giving