69. A 35-year-old man has been experiencing low back pain for 2 days with no relief from ibuprofen 400 mg 4 times daily. His pain is 7 on a scale of 1 to 10. An opioid is prescribed by a physician for pain. A nurse should know that the most important barrier to the use of opioids for pain is:
. Clients fear becoming addicted.
. Physicians' concern about drug abuse.
. Possible side effects of the drug.
. Lack of accurate pain screening tools.
Test-Taking Tip
Choose the option that is the greatest barrier . . . staff 's concern.
Content Area: Adult Health, Pain Control; Integrated Process: Nursing Process, Analysis; Cognitive Level: Application; Client Need/Subneed: Physiological Integrity/Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies/Pharmacological Pain Management
.
Answer 1 is incorrect because, while a specific client may have concerns about becoming addicted to opioids, it is more often physicians who are concerned about abuse. Answer 2 is correct because physicians often undermedicate clients because of fear that the client is abusing a narcotic opioid. Answer 3 is incorrect because the side effects can be managed if they occur. Answer 4 is incorrect because there are accurate assessment tools.