Question

The nurse also discusses postoperative pain with Simone and explains the use of a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. Simone is afraid of accidentally overdosing herself since she will be recovering from sedation after surgery. How should the nurse respond? What is the rationale for your answer? -You will only use the PCA pump for the first 24 fours after surgery -The PCA pump has a control device that will prevent you from taking too much medicine -I will inform the surgeon that you prefer the nurse administer your pain medication as needed -The surgeon will prescribe the dose of medication that is correct for you

Answer 1

PCA is a method of providing analgesia using a computerized pump that allows patients to self-administer the predetermined dose of opioids. Manage their own pain by delivering analgesic dose within preset parameters. Commonly used for postop procedures and those with extreme cancer pain.

In the present scenario, Simone is afraid of accidentally overdosing of Patient-controlled analgesia while she recovering from the sedation during postoperative pain.

As a nurse, we have to respond to the patient in an ethical manner. She has to explain the patient regarding the effectiveness of the PCA pump during the post-operative period and how it is working. and explanation regarding the function of the control device and how much time it will continue after surgery, and also explain regarding the reason for choosing the PCA instead of other methods. Here the patient is following the ethical principle right for autonomy. Then also if the patient is showing non-compliance to PCA, inform it to the surgeon.