Silvestri: Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN® Examination, 5th Edition

1. The nurse is caring for a client in labor. The nurse reviews the physician’s prescriptions and notes that the client has a prescription for butorphanol tartrate (Stadol). The nurse understands that this medication is prescribed for: 1. Pain relief 2. Increasing uterine contractions 3. Decreasing uterine contractions 4. Promoting fetal lung maturity ANS: 1 Rationale: The client in labor may be given parenteral analgesia during the first stage of labor, up to 2 to 3 hours before the anticipated delivery. Butorphanol tartrate is a medication that may be prescribed for pain relief. “Increasing uterine contractions,” “decreasing uterine contractions,” and “promoting fetal lung maturity” are not actions of this medication. Test-Taking Strategy: Knowledge of the action of butorphanol tartrate is required to answer this question. Remember that this medication is used for pain relief. Review the action of this medication if you had difficulty with this question and are unfamiliar with this medication.