Question

Discuss 5 classes of medications used for acute pain and the nursing responsibilities for each.

Answer 1

Medications used for acute pain and it's nursing responsibilities

1. ACETAMINOPHEN

Action: it's a no opioid analgesic. May block pain impulses peripherally that occur in response to inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis.

Nursing responsibilities:

• Assess hepatic studies such as AST, ALT, bilirubin, creatinine before therapy
• Assess renal studies such as BUN, urine creatinine
• Blood studies such as CBC, PT
• I& O ratio
• Hepatotoxicity

2. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (IBUPROFEN)

Action: inhiInhi COX-1, COX-2 by blocking arachidonate, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic

Nursing responsibilities:

• Assess renal and hepatic blood studies such as BUN, creatinine, AST, ALT, HgB
• Pain
• Cardiac status
• Check history of peptic ulcer.

​​​​​​​3. COX-2 INHIBITORS (CELECOXIB)

Action: inhiInhi prostaglandin synthesis by selectively inhibiting cyclooxygenase -2, an enzyme needed for biosynthesis.

Nursing responsibilities:

• Assess pain
• CBC during therapy
• GI toxicity

​​​​​​​4. OPIOIDS ( MORPHINE)

Action: depresses pain impulse transmission at the spinal cord level by interacting with opioid receptors.

Nursing responsibilities:

• Assess pain
• Bowel status
• I & O ratio
• BP, PULSE, RESPIRATION
• CNS changes
• ​​​​​​​Respiratory dysfunction