Question

A home care patient is experiencing pain secondary to surgery for head and neck cancer. She takes a liquid narcotic in suspension form. Her doctor ordered 2 teaspoons q. 4 hours, PRN for pain and gave orders to the home health nurse to titrate the dose to the patient’s pain level. The nurse is to report on the patient’s pain level and response to the analgesics every week. Given the patient’s condition and level of pain and previous response to analgesics, there is no fear of addiction in this patient. The nurse has explained the treatment plan to the patient, and she concurs with the analgesia plan. However, the patient will not measure the amount of medication she takes each time. Every time the nurse visits, the patient reports that she takes a “couple of swigs” and that it relieves the pain. She does not see the need to make a detailed record of her use of medication because the system she is using works. Design a program that will be agreeable to this patient and still meet the nursing need of documenting episodes of pain and how much medication was needed for relief of pain. You must consider your legal and ethical role as a nurse and the ideal of patient autonomy.

Answer 1

Pain Management --

As a Nurse for the management of pain I should give the following instructions to the patient --

1) Patient should be encouraged to maintain a calm & comfort possition,, that will help to reduce the pain..

2) Always try to maintain a calm & quite environment..

3) Patient should be taught about the importance of useing Analgesic Medication for relieving of Pain..

4) Patient should be taught about the importance of taking the medication at proper time & proper dose..

5) Patient should informed about the side effects of these medications,, if they are not taken in appropriate dose & time..

6) Patient should be taught that,,if any side effects occour then inform the Doctor..

7) Patient should taught about the importance of avoiding any kind of hazardous activity..

8) The family Members of the patient should give the Health teaching about the importance of maintain good interpersonal relationship to reduce the anxiety level.. This will also help to reduce the Pain by diverting the patient's mind..

These all are my Legal & ethical Role as a Nurse in the case of Pain Management..