A known drug-abusing client had a knee replacement. One month later the client is admitted for severe pain in that knee. The nursing staff is slow to provide pain medications because the client is "obviously addicted and just wants more medication." What action by the nurse manager is most appropriate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The staff has some personal biases that are impacting their ability to provide holistic nursing care to this client. The manager would best facilitate staff evaluating their own beliefs about pain and pain control. Pain control is based on the client's needs and not the nurses' beliefs. While there are standards related to pain control, merely reminding the staff about this does not help them provide holistic, compassionate care. A "lunch-n-learn" might be helpful, but is not the best action to help this client at this time. While it is true that people with addictions have pain, that statement is paternalistic and flippant.

A Known Drug-Abusing Client Had a Knee Replacement