The nurse is planning to administer a pain medication to a patient who has just returned to the unit following bowel resection surgery. The patient has four standing orders for pain medication. Which order should the nurse select?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The best option for managing post-operative pain, especially after major surgery like a bowel resection, is to use a method that allows for immediate and controlled pain relief. An intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump (option A) enables the patient to self-administer a preset dose of pain medication when needed, ensuring rapid and effective pain management without waiting for a nurse to administer the medication. This method also reduces the risk of overmedication and undermedication, providing a balance between pain relief and safety.

The Nurse Is Planning to Administer a Pain Medication to a Patient