A patient with metastatic cancer is being admitted for pain control.Which action will the nurse perform in administering a transdermal patch?
A) After removal,dispose of the old patch in a receptacle in the patient's room.
B) Change the fentanyl patch every day,either in the morning or at bedtime.
C) Hold the short-acting oral pain medication when a fentanyl patch is initiated.
D) Label the patch with date,time,dosage,and initials after patch placement.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When administering a transdermal patch, the nurse should label it with the date, time, dosage, and their initials after patch placement to ensure proper documentation and to prevent errors. Option A is incorrect because the old patch should be disposed of in a sharps container, not a receptacle in the patient's room. Option B is incorrect because fentanyl patches are usually changed every 72 hours, not every day. Option C is incorrect because short-acting oral pain medication may need to be continued until the fentanyl patch reaches therapeutic levels.

A Patient with Metastatic Cancer Is Being Admitted for Pain