Finding: Reports ER administered pain medication (Found)Pro Tip: The differences between prescription and over-the-counter pain medications can be vast and asking about the type of pain medication your patient has been using will help you fully understand her home treatment habits.
A patient in the ER is anxious and pacing the room. She says, "I ran out of the pain medication I take—oxycodone-- and I am in a lot of pain." An RN taking care of her is both knowledgeable about pain and about following ethical principlesWhen he
a) Immediately administers a dose of pain medication
b) Says, "Let's see what we can do. First tell me about your pain."
c) Informs the patient that she needs a prescription refill from her primary care provider
d) Suggests non-pharmacological pain management techniques