The nurse is caring for a patient with lung cancer who has been receiving morphine for 2 weeks and reports the medication is no longer effective. Which is the patient likely experiencing?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tolerance occurs when a patient's body becomes accustomed to a medication over time, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect. In this case, the patient's need for an increased dose of morphine to manage pain indicates tolerance, not physical dependence, addiction, or pseudoaddiction.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient with Lung Cancer