A client with burns is scheduled for wound debridement. Which PRN medication should the nurse administer prior to the procedure?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking which 'as needed' (PRN) medication a nurse should administer to a burn patient prior to wound debridement. Wound debridement is the removal of dead or damaged tissue from a wound to promote healing and reduce the risk of infection. Considering the pain associated with this procedure, the most appropriate medication would be an analgesic given intravenously for rapid action.
Answer
IV fentanyl
The correct answer is IV fentanyl. Burn wound debridement is a painful procedure, and IV fentanyl, a short-acting opioid, provides rapid pain relief. Other options are not the best choice because oral medications take longer to absorb, and ondansetron is an antiemetic, not an analgesic.
Answer for screen readers
The correct answer is IV fentanyl. Burn wound debridement is a painful procedure, and IV fentanyl, a short-acting opioid, provides rapid pain relief. Other options are not the best choice because oral medications take longer to absorb, and ondansetron is an antiemetic, not an analgesic.
More Information
Burn wound debridement can be a very painful procedure, so adequate pain management is essential. IV fentanyl offers rapid and effective pain relief due to its fast onset of action, making it a suitable choice for managing procedural pain.
Tips
A common mistake is overlooking the speed of onset needed for pain relief during a procedure like wound debridement. Oral medications have a slower onset compared to IV medications, so a faster-acting medication like IV fentanyl is more appropriate in this situation.
Sources
- Ch. 9 & 35 - Acute burn injuries Flashcards by Elias Cortez - brainscape.com
- Acute and Perioperative Care of the Burn-Injured Patient - PMC - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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