A patient reports significant pain level of 10 on a scale of 1 to 10 t

QUESTION

A patient reports significant pain level of 10 on a scale of 1 to 10 to the nurse who is caring for her on the night shift. The patient tells the nurse that she has been at this level since her surgery earlier in the day.

The nurse checks the medication administration record and notes that the patient received hydrocodone 7.5 milligrams/acetaminophen with 500 milligrams (Vicodin) every six hours. The nurse brings the patient one and one-half tablets. The patient says, “I never took that. I only had one white pill.” What action should the nurse take next?
A. Call the pharmacy and request that they send the dose in one tablet
C. Notify the supervisor of the situation
C. Confront the nurse from the previous shift regarding the patient’s report
D. Call the physician and request a different narcotic analgesic

ANSWER:

ANS: B