A terminally ill patient tells the nurse that his pain is better controlled in the hospital than at home because the pain medication cost is high and he does not get the prescriptions filled as he should. Which of the following should the nurse do to help this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Patients nearing the end of life may view costs as a major barrier to obtaining effective analgesia at the end of life. Many of the analgesics currently available can be costly and medications may be selected based upon cost rather than appropriateness. Generic and immediate-release medications are usually less expensive than longer-acting and brand-name medications. The nurse should discuss this issue with the physician to see if medications can be prescribed as generics. The hospital may or may not be able to prepare several months of pain medication for the patient to take home. The nurse should not assume that the patient can eliminate other expenses in order to purchase pain medication. Suggesting that the patient take over-the-counter medication for pain may or may not be appropriate for the patient's level of pain and should not be done.

A Terminally Ill Patient Tells the Nurse That His Pain