New RN question?

[Traci88]

I am a new Grad on a med/surg floor and I have a question for all of you. I had a situtation where an older man diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia was ordered 2mg of morphine q4 scheduled and 2 mg of morphine q2 prn. He was in the late stages of Alzheimers and could not make out words,but was able to respond to voice and was alert. Anyways his scheduled dose of morphine was due and I went in to assess him and he was resting quietly like he had been all shift. So my question is should you give the morphine just because its scheduled or should you use your judgement in determining if the patient needs it.

[kayern]

:nurse:I'm assuming you administered the 4mg every 4 hour dose. Resting comfortably because of his last dose? Remember pain is subjective, maybe he was comfortable because of his morphine. I can't put the whole clinical picture together, but always go with your gut........when in doubt ask your charge nurse or call a physician.

[guest64485]

As the poster before me wrote, he may have been comfortable due to his last dose. It is important to stay ahead of pain. In this case, without knowing much about that patient, as long as his respirations were fine and he was alert, I probably would have continued giving the morphine.

[dixiesnurse]

I would agree and say stay ahead of pain after checking respers ad vitals. Important because pain causes stress and affect the immune system and healing.