A patient with second-degree burns has been receiving morphine through patient-controlled analgesia ( PCA ) for a week. The patient wakes up frequently during the night complaining of pain. The most appropriate action by the nurse is to

Question

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PCAs are best for controlling acute pain; this patient's history indicates chronic pain and a need for a pain management plan that will provide adequate analgesia while the patient is sleeping. Administering a dose of morphine when the patient already has severe pain will not address the problem. Teaching the patient to administer unneeded medication before going to sleep can result in oversedation and respiratory depression. It is illegal for the nurse to administer the morphine for a patient through PCA.

A Patient with Second-Degree Burns Has Been Receiving Morphine Through