Instruction: This is your study guide for module 8. It is essential that you identify the medications
outlined in this document some are inferred look those up as well. Address the MOA, indication, adverse
effects (some might encompass other complications such as resp depression, and or adrenal
insufficiency). Once you have obtained a good grasp of the medications then complete this worksheet.
This is not a graded document this is for your reference.
1. Develop a teaching plan for someone who will be starting on morphine. This patient is extremely
anxious about becoming addicted. It’s important that you address the side effects of the
Morphine and discuss the differences between tolerance, dependence and addiction.
Tolerance: Increased dosage needed to obtain the same response.
Dependence: (This is rare when opioids are used correctly) Opioid addiction
2. This patient ends up on a Patient Controlled Analgesic (PCA): what does this mean and what kind
of teaching will you be doing with the patient and family?
Only the patient is to control the PCA pump. If not, this can cause an overdose. Pt education
should be completed with the patient prior to surgery or procedure in regard to only them
controlling the PCA.
3. Your patient on Morphine has not had any urine output for 5 hours what is your interpretation
of this and what do you anticipate that your interventions to you anticipate?
Urinary Retention. Depending on the results of a bladder scan the patient may need to have a
straight catheter to drain the urine from the bladder.
4. The telemetry monitor calls you to ask you to check on the patient in room 214. You note the
patient was admitted for pain management for a motor cross accident that resulted in a flail
chest. The patient is on a pain regimen of Morphine 1.0 mg IV qh and Hydrocodone-ASAP
10/325mg po. The patient is sleeping soundly and snoring, vitals BP 70/40. RR: 6 bpm, and SPO2
85% on 2L of oxygen nasal cannula.
a. Explain what has happened here.
Opioid overdose
b. Discuss the adverse reactions of Morphine and what are you going to monitor (in