Dr. Karboski (professor of pharmacology and all-around nice guy) is at the clinic today because of pain in his right hand. Dr. Karboski thinks it is possible that he has carpal tunnel syndrome in his right wrist. The nurse checks for Tinel’s sign, knowing to expect which symptom if it is positive:

Mr. White works as an Instructional Technologist at the UT School of Nursing. His job involves many hours of typing each day. Which one of the following should the occupational health nurse recommend to Mr. White?

Mrs. Almasy had abdominal surgery yesterday. She is receiving morphine through patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Her basal rate is 1mg per hour continuous, and she has the option to give herself an additional 0.2mg every 12 minutes by using the PCA button. Which action by the nurse is a priority?

The nurse reviews the medication orders for an older patient with osteoarthritis (OA) in both hips who reports level 3 (0 to 10 scale) hip pain while ambulating. Which medication should the nurse offer as initial therapy?

Kristofferson Fox (62M) was involved in a motor vehicle accident and subsequently admitted to the hospital with a right femur fracture requiring surgery. After being hospitalized for 3 days, Kristofferson develops shortness of breath and tachypnea. He tells the nurse, “I feel like I am going to die!” Which action should the nurse take first?

EunYoung Kim, 34F, was in a skiing accident and is being admitted to the emergency department with a suspected left femur fracture. Which assessment finding by the nurse is most important to report to the health care provider?

During a lecture on opioids and pain management in medicine, a nursing instructor discusses the JAMA letter written by Porter and Jick in 1980. The student nurse, having read the JAMA letter, understands that was the primary subject of this letter was … ?

Mrs. Sanchez uses a fentanyl (Duragesic) patch for chronic abdominal pain caused by ovarian cancer. Her patch provides a continuous amount of the medication to be delivered transdermally.  At shift change, Mrs. Sanchez asks the oncoming nurse to administer her prescribed PRN Norco (hydrocodone/APAP) 10mg/325mg tablet. Which action should the nurse take first?

The nurse teaches a patient with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip about how to manage the signs and symptoms of OA. Which patient statement indicates to the nurse a need for additional teaching?

The health care provider orders a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) machine to provide pain relief for a patient with acute surgical pain who has never received opioids before. The nurse sets up the pump, connects it to the patient, and educates the patient on the proper use of the PCA. Which nursing actions regarding opioid administration are appropriate at this time? Select all that apply.