Aclient with second-degree burns has been receiving morphine through patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for a week. The client wakes up frequently during the night complaining of pain. Which of the following actions should the nurse implement?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

PCAs are best for controlling acute pain; this client's history indicates chronic pain and a need for a pain management plan that will provide adequate analgesia while the client is sleeping. Administering a dose of morphine when the client already has severe pain will not address the problem. Teaching the client 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 client through PCA.

Aclient with Second-Degree Burns Has Been Receiving Morphine Through Patient-Controlled