Certified Hospice and Palliative Assistant (CHPNA) Practice Test

What should a nurse suggest if a patient is taking breakthrough pain medication more than three times a day?

1. Continue with the current dose

2. Consider alternative medications

3. Increase the amount of the scheduled dose

4. Switch to non-opioid analgesics

The correct answer is: Increase the amount of the scheduled dose

When a patient is taking breakthrough pain medication more than three times a day, it often indicates that their current regular pain management plan is inadequate and not providing sufficient relief. In this context, increasing the scheduled dose is a reasonable recommendation to help manage the patient's pain more effectively. Breakthrough pain medication is typically prescribed to manage pain that is not controlled by scheduled medications. If a patient finds themselves frequently needing these medications, it suggests that the baseline pain control may be suboptimal. Therefore, adjusting the scheduled dose could improve overall pain management by reducing the need for breakthrough doses. This approach aims to maintain better pain control throughout the day, enhancing the patient's quality of life and reducing reliance on additional medications to manage pain episodes. Alternatives such as switching medications or considering non-opioid analgesics may not adequately address the issue of ongoing uncontrolled pain, especially if there is already a regimen in place that includes scheduled doses. Continuing with the current dose would likely perpetuate the challenge of managing pain effectively. Therefore, adjusting the scheduled dose reflects a proactive step in pain management for patients who face frequent episodes of breakthrough pain.