A nurse evaluates a client's patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump and notices 100 attempts within a 30-minute period. Which is the best rationale for assessing this client for substance addiction?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The high number of attempts within a short time period suggests that the client may have developed a tolerance to the medication, which can be caused by substance addiction. This may require increased doses of medication to achieve pain control. Therefore, the nurse should assess the client for substance addiction. Option A is a generalization and may not be true for all clients with substance use disorders. Option C is incorrect because PCA malfunction does not necessarily imply higher pain tolerance, and option D is not relevant to the situation described in the question.

A Nurse Evaluates a Client's Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) Pump and Notices