Chapter 2 - Prioritization, Delegation, and
Assignment Q&A 2023 100% Verified
The patient describes a burning sensation in the leg. The health care
... [Show More] provider tells the nurse that a
medication will be prescribed for neuropathic pain secondary to chemotherapy. The nurse is *most* likely to
question the prescription of which drug?
•Imipramine
•Carbamazepine
•Gabapentin
•Morphine - ANS-•Morphine
•Morphine is usually not prescribed for neuropathic pain because pain relief response is poor. Other
medications, some antidepressants (e.g., imipramine) and some anticonvulsants (e.g., carbamazepine and
gabapentin), provide better relief.
A patient who has cancer will need ongoing treatment for pain. Which brochure is the nurse most likely to
prepare that addresses questions related to the first-line treatment of cancer pain?
•"An Illustrated Guide to the Analgesic Ladder"
•"Common Questions About Radiation Therapy"
•"How to Make Preparations for Your Cancer Surgery"
•"How Nerve Blocks Can Help to Manage Cancer Pain" - ANS-•"An Illustrated Guide to the Analgesic
Ladder"
•Analgesic drugs are the first-line treatment for cancer pain management. If pain is not controlled by
medication, other options are available, including radiation, surgery, and nerve blocks.
Which nurse is demonstrating the *first* step in managing cancer pain by using the ABCDE (ask, believe,
choose, deliver, and empower) clinical approach to pain management as recommended by the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality?
•Nurse J asks if the time of the prescribed dose of medication can be changed
•Nurse K asks the patient to describe pain and uses a numerical pain scale
•Nurse L asks the patient to participate and to contribute in pain management
•Nurse M asks about pain management options that are appropriate for the patient - ANS-•Nurse K asks
the patient to describe pain and uses a numerical pain scale
•Asking the patient to describe the pain is the first step. The ABCDE step-by-step clinical approach includes
ask, believe, choose, deliver, and empower (or enable).
The nurse assesses the patient and determines that the patient is having frequent breakthrough cancer
pain. Which member of the health care team is the nurse most likely to contact *first*?
•Physical therapist to reevaluate physical therapy routines
•Health care provider to review medication, dosage, and frequency
•Unlicensed assistive personnel to provide more assistance with activities of daily living
•Psychiatric clinical nurse specialist to evaluate psychogenic pain - ANS-•Health care provider to review
medication, dosage, and frequency
•Breakthrough pain is defined as rapid onset, short duration, and moderate to severe; a temporary
exacerbation related to poorly controlled around-the-clock dosing of background pain. Frequent
breakthrough pain suggests that the around-the-clock dosing needs reevaluation, so the nurse would
contact the health care provider and advocate for a change of medication or dose or frequency.
The night shift nurse tells the oncoming dayshift nurse that the cancer patient is on around-the-clock dosing
of morphine but that the patient might be having end-of-dose pain. Which question is the *most* important
to ask the night shift nurse?
•"How many times did you have to give a bolus dose of morphine?"
•"Did the patient tell you that the pain was greater than a 5/10?"
•"Did you notify the health care provider (HCP), and were changes prescribed?"
•"Did you try any nonpharmaceutical therapies or adjuvant medications?" - ANS-•"Did you notify the health
care provider (HCP), and were changes prescribed?"
•The nurse might ask any of these questions, but the most important question is whether the HCP was
notified and if any changes were made to address the patient's pain. If the HCP was not called during the
night (which is often the case), then the day shift nurse must assess the patient's current pain, talk to him or
her directly about last night's pain, and gather data about the frequency of bolus doses and other options
that were tried. Data about last night's care should be available in the patient's record if it is not mentioned
in report.
The nurse is caring for a patient with esophageal cancer. Which task could be delegated to unlicensed
assistive personnel (UAP)?
•Assisting the patient with oral hygiene
•Observing the patient's response to feedings
•Facilitating expression of grief or anxiety
•Initiating daily weights - ANS-•Assisting the patient with oral hygiene
•Oral hygiene is within the scope of duties of the UAP. It is the responsibility of the nurse to observe
response to treatments and to help the patient deal with loss or anxiety. The UAP can be directed to weigh
the patient but should not be expected to know when to initiate that measurement.
A 56-year-old patient comes to the walk-in clinic reporting scant rectal bleeding and intermittent diarrhea
and constipation for the past several months. There is a history of polyps and a family history of colorectal
cancer. While the nurse is trying to teach about colonoscopy, the patient becomes angry and threatens to
leave. What is the *priority* nursing concept to consider in responding to this patient?
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