A 67-year-old woman presents at the emergency department with symptoms that suggest possible abuse of a narcotic analgesic.To best assure the client's safe care, the nurse asks:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

First, if prescription drug abuse is suspected, the nurse should ask the client or a family member to identify and bring in all medications that the client is currently using and inform the physician so a plan for safe detoxification can be established. In addition, the physician can try to prevent any untoward drug interactions resulting from prescribing a new medication that is contraindicated because of an existing prescription.

A 67-Year-Old Woman Presents at the Emergency Department with Symptoms