Use of PCAs for Pain Management
Use of PCAs for Pain Management is organized by Nurse com - OnCourse Learning Corporation.
Course Originally Released on: 08/13/2021
Date of Most Recent Review: 8/13/2021
Course Termination/ Update Date: 08/13/2024
Description:
For many postoperative patients, the primary method of controlling pain is through patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). This computerized pump can deliver several pain medications according to an order written by a healthcare professional. However, PCA is not without risks. Nurses should employ all safety measures to ensure that PCA errors are avoided.
Learning Objectives:
After taking this course, you should be able to:
• Name the three patient safety issues involving PCA and three actions that can reduce the occurrence of adverse PCA-related events.
• Identify patients who are not good candidates for PCA.
• Determine the criteria for deciding if a patient is opioid naïve or opioid-tolerant.
