Pain Basics
Pain is considered the ______ vital sign.
What is the fifth?
This analgesic is not an NSAID and has minimal GI side effects.
What is acetaminophen?
Opioids primarily relieve pain by acting on this system in the body.
What is the central nervous system (CNS)?
This is the most common and expected GI adverse effect of opioid therapy. PCA pumps include this safety feature to prevent overdose.
What is constipation?
Triptans like sumatriptan are used to treat this type of headache.
What is a migraine?
This term refers to the amount of pain a person can endure without interference in function.
What is pain tolerance?
The maximum recommended daily dose of acetaminophen is this amount.
What is 4 grams per day?
Morphine commonly causes pinpoint pupils, also known as this condition.
What is miosis?
A patient receiving opioids is at highest risk for this life-threatening adverse effect.
What is respiratory depression?
Cluster headaches are more common in this population.
What are males?
Endorphins naturally reduce pain by acting on these receptors.
What are opioid receptors?
Chronic excessive acetaminophen use can cause failure of this organ.
What is the liver?
Hydromorphone is approximately this many times more potent than morphine.
What is six times?
The nurse should have this medication available when administering IV opioids.
What is naloxone?
Anticonvulsants and antidepressants are examples of this pain therapy category.
What are adjuvant analgesics?
The gate control theory explains pain modulation at this level of the nervous system.
What is the spinal cord?
Patients should avoid this substance while taking acetaminophen due to hepatotoxicity risk.
What is alcohol?
A respiratory rate of 6 breaths/min in a patient on opioids indicates this life-threatening complication.
What is respiratory depression?
This assessment finding indicates opioid overdose rather than therapeutic effect.
What is a respiratory rate below 10 breaths per minute?
Cheese, red wine, and chocolate are common triggers for this headache type.
What is migraine headache?
A patient reports severe pain despite minimal tissue injury. The nurse understands this variation is best explained by individual differences in this pain concept.
What is pain tolerance or pain threshold?
A patient asks why acetaminophen reduces pain and fever but does not reduce inflammation or increase bleeding risk like NSAIDs. The nurse explains this occurs because acetaminophen lacks this pharmacologic action.
What is peripheral anti-inflammatory and platelet inhibition activity?
A patient receiving IV morphine has a respiratory rate of 8/min, pinpoint pupils, and hypotension. The nurse prepares to administer this medication immediately.
What is naloxone?
An older adult receiving opioids becomes confused and hypotensive. The nurse recognizes these effects are most likely related to this pharmacologic characteristic of opioids.
What is CNS depression?
A patient experiencing migraines triggered by red wine and stress is prescribed sumatriptan. This medication works by selectively stimulating this receptor type.
What are serotonin (5-HT₁) receptors?