Question

Four clients have requested medication for pain. Which client should receive pain medication first? A. A 35-year-old client with fractures of the right femur B. An 18-year-old client who is one day post appendectomy C. A 55-year-old client with diverticulitis D. A 47-year-old client who is one week post myocardial infarction

Short answer

Answer: A. A 35-year-old client with fractures of the right femur.

Step-by-step solution

Analyze the medical conditions

In order to prioritize the clients, we should have a basic understanding of their medical condition: A. A 35-year-old client with fractures of the right femur: Fractures can cause severe pain and might need immediate attention to ensure comfort and avoid further complications. B. An 18-year-old client who is one day post appendectomy: Post-operative pain is expected after surgery; however, the intensity of the pain reduces over time. It is important to manage the pain, but the priority depends on the severity of the pain and the presence of any complications. C. A 55-year-old client with diverticulitis: Diverticulitis is an inflammation of the diverticula in the colon. The condition may cause abdominal pain, which may require pain management, but it's not usually as severe as fractures or post-operative pain from other surgeries. D. A 47-year-old client who is one week post myocardial infarction: The pain from a myocardial infarction usually subsides after a few days, and since it's been a week, this client may not have the same level of urgency as others.

Compare the severity of the conditions

Now that we have understood the medical conditions of all clients, we need to compare the severity and determine which client has the most urgent need for pain medication. Here are the considerations: A. Fracture patients can suffer from unbearable pain and need immediate management. B. Post-appendectomy pain is expected, and since it's only one day after the surgery, it can be intense, but severity is subjective. C. Diverticulitis pain is typically not as severe as fractures or post-surgical pain. D. The myocardial infarction patient is one week post-event, so the pain is likely to have reduced in intensity.

Determine which client should receive pain medication first

Based on the analysis and comparison of the four client situations, it is evident that the client experiencing the most acute pain and requiring immediate attention is: A. A 35-year-old client with fractures of the right femur. The other clients may need pain medication as well, but according to the information provided, the client with the fracture should receive medication first.