Evolve HESI Practice Exam

A hospice patient complains of increasing pain and is prescribed analgesics every four hours. What should the nurse do?

1. Administer the analgesics only when requested by the client

2. Give analgesics on an around-the-clock schedule

3. Consult with the healthcare provider for stronger medication

4. Switch to oral medication instead of IV

The correct answer is: Give analgesics on an around-the-clock schedule

Administering analgesics on an around-the-clock schedule is the most suitable approach for managing the pain of a hospice patient. In hospice care, the objective is to ensure the patient experiences the highest quality of life possible, with a significant focus on comfort and pain relief. When pain is persistent and a patient requires medications every four hours, it indicates that the pain may not be well-managed with a "as needed" (PRN) approach. By providing analgesics at regular intervals, the nurse can maintain a more consistent level of comfort and prevent the pain from becoming severe. This proactive approach can help avoid the peaks and troughs in pain management that can occur if analgesics are only given when the patient expresses discomfort. The other options do not align with best practices for pain management in palliative care. For instance, waiting for the patient to request medication could lead to unnecessary suffering. Consulting with the healthcare provider for stronger medication may be appropriate in certain cases, but the immediate need to control existing pain suggests that a regular dosing schedule should be prioritized first. Switching to oral medication could also be beneficial in some scenarios, but it depends on the patient's specific condition and ability to take medications by mouth efficiently. Implementing a round-the-clock analgesic regimen