Rasmussen University – NCSBN Client
Need: Opioid Management & Patient
Education for Pain Control (2025) |
Verified Study Guide with Accurate
Answers
ANALGESICS
1- The home health hospice nurse visits a client who is newly prescribed extended-release
oxycodone 40 mg orally, scheduled every 12 hours to treat severe chronic cancer pain. Which
information is most important to reinforce to the client's caregiver?
1- Administer the medication around the clock even if the client denies having pain
2- Avoid administering with immediate-release opioids to prevent respiratory depression
3- Change the dosage and frequency to 20 mg every 6 hours if breakthrough pain occurs
4- Request a tapered dose from the health care provider if pain decreases to prevent tolerance
Correct – 1
07/03/2019
Last Updated
• Explanation
,opioids for relief of breakthrough pain. Respiratory status should be monitored; however,
clients who receive long-term therapy become opioid tolerant and are less likely to experience
adverse effects. Because the goal of hospice care is comfort, this client should be relieved of
breakthrough pain regardless of respiratory status.
(Option 3) The dose and frequency cannot be changed without a prescription. Also,
breakthrough pain is best treated with short-acting opioids.
(Option 4) Long-term opioid therapy leads to drug tolerance and physical dependence; higher
doses are eventually required for therapeutic effect. In the dying client, it is not appropriate to
taper the dose. Rather, it should be titrated upward for effective pain relief.
Educational objective:
Long-acting controlled-release opioid drugs for chronic pain require regularly scheduled dosing
to maintain a therapeutic drug level. Immediate-release opioids may be required for
,breakthrough pain. Long-term opioid use leads to tolerance and physical dependence; higher
doses are eventually required for therapeutic effect.
Additional Information
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
NCSBN Client Need
.010
2- The nurse is administering IV hydromorphone to a client every 3-4 hours as needed for
postoperative pain. Which interventions should the nurse implement? Select all that apply.
1- Administer IV hydromorphone over 5-10 seconds
2- Administer PRN stool softener with daily medications
3- Hold hydromorphone if client is not practicing deep breathing exercises
4- Perform reassessment an hour after administration
5- Tell the client to call for assistance before getting out of bed
Correct answer
2,5
13%
Answered correctly
77 Seconds
Time Spent
12/09/2019
, get out of bed unassisted (Option 5). Slowed bowel motility persists throughout opioid use,
and measures to prevent constipation (eg, administration of daily stool softeners) should be
implemented (Option 2).
(Option 1) IV hydromorphone should be administered slowly over 2-3 minutes. Rapid IV
administration of opioid analgesics can cause severe hypotension and respiratory or cardiac
arrest.
(Option 3) Postoperative clients may experience pain with breathing exercises (eg, turning,
coughing, deep breathing, incentive spirometry). Uncontrolled postoperative pain may cause
clients to avoid deep breathing and lead to atelectasis and pneumonia. The nurse should
administer opioids to achieve adequate pain control as needed to encourage participation in
postoperative exercises and prevent complications.
(Option 4) The nurse should reassess pain and sedation level during the opioid's peak effect,
which is 15-30 minutes after administration of IV hydromorphone.
Educational objective:
Opioid analgesics are effective for managing postoperative pain, which encourages
participation in deep breathing exercises. Side effects of opioid analgesics include sedation,
respiratory depression, hypotension, and constipation. The nurse should administer IV
hydromorphone slowly over 2-3 minutes, monitor sedation level, instruct the client not to get
out of bed unassisted, and administer PRN stool softeners.
Additional Information
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
NCSBN Client Need
3- A client is taking morphine sulfate for acute pain. The client stands, is immediately
"lightheaded = mareado," and calls for the nurse. What is the nurse's priority action?
1- Assess the client's orthostatic blood pressure
2- Assist the client to a sitting position
3- Hold and walk with the client
4- Keep the client on bed rest
Correct answer
Need: Opioid Management & Patient
Education for Pain Control (2025) |
Verified Study Guide with Accurate
Answers
ANALGESICS
1- The home health hospice nurse visits a client who is newly prescribed extended-release
oxycodone 40 mg orally, scheduled every 12 hours to treat severe chronic cancer pain. Which
information is most important to reinforce to the client's caregiver?
1- Administer the medication around the clock even if the client denies having pain
2- Avoid administering with immediate-release opioids to prevent respiratory depression
3- Change the dosage and frequency to 20 mg every 6 hours if breakthrough pain occurs
4- Request a tapered dose from the health care provider if pain decreases to prevent tolerance
Correct – 1
07/03/2019
Last Updated
• Explanation
,opioids for relief of breakthrough pain. Respiratory status should be monitored; however,
clients who receive long-term therapy become opioid tolerant and are less likely to experience
adverse effects. Because the goal of hospice care is comfort, this client should be relieved of
breakthrough pain regardless of respiratory status.
(Option 3) The dose and frequency cannot be changed without a prescription. Also,
breakthrough pain is best treated with short-acting opioids.
(Option 4) Long-term opioid therapy leads to drug tolerance and physical dependence; higher
doses are eventually required for therapeutic effect. In the dying client, it is not appropriate to
taper the dose. Rather, it should be titrated upward for effective pain relief.
Educational objective:
Long-acting controlled-release opioid drugs for chronic pain require regularly scheduled dosing
to maintain a therapeutic drug level. Immediate-release opioids may be required for
,breakthrough pain. Long-term opioid use leads to tolerance and physical dependence; higher
doses are eventually required for therapeutic effect.
Additional Information
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
NCSBN Client Need
.010
2- The nurse is administering IV hydromorphone to a client every 3-4 hours as needed for
postoperative pain. Which interventions should the nurse implement? Select all that apply.
1- Administer IV hydromorphone over 5-10 seconds
2- Administer PRN stool softener with daily medications
3- Hold hydromorphone if client is not practicing deep breathing exercises
4- Perform reassessment an hour after administration
5- Tell the client to call for assistance before getting out of bed
Correct answer
2,5
13%
Answered correctly
77 Seconds
Time Spent
12/09/2019
, get out of bed unassisted (Option 5). Slowed bowel motility persists throughout opioid use,
and measures to prevent constipation (eg, administration of daily stool softeners) should be
implemented (Option 2).
(Option 1) IV hydromorphone should be administered slowly over 2-3 minutes. Rapid IV
administration of opioid analgesics can cause severe hypotension and respiratory or cardiac
arrest.
(Option 3) Postoperative clients may experience pain with breathing exercises (eg, turning,
coughing, deep breathing, incentive spirometry). Uncontrolled postoperative pain may cause
clients to avoid deep breathing and lead to atelectasis and pneumonia. The nurse should
administer opioids to achieve adequate pain control as needed to encourage participation in
postoperative exercises and prevent complications.
(Option 4) The nurse should reassess pain and sedation level during the opioid's peak effect,
which is 15-30 minutes after administration of IV hydromorphone.
Educational objective:
Opioid analgesics are effective for managing postoperative pain, which encourages
participation in deep breathing exercises. Side effects of opioid analgesics include sedation,
respiratory depression, hypotension, and constipation. The nurse should administer IV
hydromorphone slowly over 2-3 minutes, monitor sedation level, instruct the client not to get
out of bed unassisted, and administer PRN stool softeners.
Additional Information
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
NCSBN Client Need
3- A client is taking morphine sulfate for acute pain. The client stands, is immediately
"lightheaded = mareado," and calls for the nurse. What is the nurse's priority action?
1- Assess the client's orthostatic blood pressure
2- Assist the client to a sitting position
3- Hold and walk with the client
4- Keep the client on bed rest
Correct answer
