The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient with Metastatic Cancer

The nurse is caring for a patient with metastatic cancer. The patient is receiving 4 mg of morphine intravenously every 6 hours as needed and 5 mg hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Lortab) every 6 hours orally as needed for breakthrough pain. The patient reports the medication is effective, but the medication wears off before the dose is due. The nurse notifies the health care provider. Which order should the nurse anticipate?

A) Changing the morphine to a different opioid
B) Changing medications to an around-the-clock schedule
C) Adding an additional medication
D) Increasing the dose of the current medication