PCA QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ALREADY PASSED

PCA QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ALREADY PASSED Advantages of using PCA Maintain Therapeutic blood levels of analgesia by: having better pain control and decreasing overall amout of narcotics used. How does PCA create better pain relief 1. control pain w/o sedation 2. decreases anxiety by not having to wait for meds 3. take a dose when pt feels they need it=self control 4. better ableto participate in cares and activity if decreased pain. Who is a candidate for pain management Acute care patients (Acute pain) 1. surgical patients 2. Trauma patients Terminal pain 1. cancer paints must be able to use the pca for pain management Criteria for using a PCA for pain management 1. mentally alert (able to understand concept) 2. understand directions for operating the pump 3. ability to press the button Who is not a good candidate for pain management 1. impaired mental status 2. history of COPD (will cause respiratory depression by inc. co2 in lungs from dec. RR) 3. impaired renal or hepatic function (may require 25-50% less narcotics due to inability to excrete them from the blood) 4. inability to press the button 5. history of addiction 6. minimum age of 18 in most cases (per policy) PCA pump orders vs. delivery system Delivers in ml/hour, ordered in mg/hour or mcg/hour Causes risk for ERROR Types of dosing continuous infusion =Basal rate demand dosing (pt dose) bolus dose (loading) 4 hour limit Basal rate PCA pump administers small dose of analgesic every hour Basal Rate advantage more consistent dosing pt can fall asleep without fear or not getting medication Disadvantage of Basal Rate IF set at wrong rate pt can get too high of a dose which could cause respiratory depression increased sedation