PCA Safety And Monitoring Practice Test

A 41-year-old client with no significant medical history is postoperative day 0 after thyroidectomy and is using an intravenous opioid PCA. Current assessment: pain 6/10, blood pressure 130/82 mm Hg, heart rate 92/min, respiratory rate 18/min, oxygen saturation 96% on room air; the client states the pain is not improving and the nurse notes the PCA cartridge is empty. What is the nurse’s PRIORITY action with the PCA?

A 59-year-old client with depression is postoperative day 1 after abdominal hysterectomy and is using an intravenous opioid PCA. Current assessment: pain 5/10, blood pressure 124/78 mm Hg, heart rate 82/min, respiratory rate 14/min, oxygen saturation 96% on room air; the client asks if the nurse can “push the PCA button every 10 minutes” to keep pain at zero. The nurse should QUESTION which request related to PCA use?