🩺 PCA stands for patient-controlled analgesia 👉🏼

🩺 PCAs are commonly ordered for patients that are post-op, have sickle cell, have severe acute pain, or those that have cancer associated pain 😣

🩺 Opioids like hydromorphone (Dilaudid), morphine and fentanyl are the most common drugs administered via PCA 💉

🩺 The pump may be set to have a continuous rate (basal) and or a bolus. The basal runs continuously and the bolus is delivered when the patient presses the delivery button 🔘

🩺 It’s important to educate the patient that they cannot overdose as the machine limits the total dose they can recieve per hour (hour max limit) ❌

🩺 The patient should also be encouraged to monitor their own pain and press the button 🔘 when they need it. This gives the patient a sense of control over their pain.

🩺 As the nurse you will be expected to closely monitor the patients vital signs🫀, especially 🫁 respirations, SpO2💨, BP and pain levels. Capnography may also be monitored.

🩺 Be sure to document 📝 the amount of times the button is pressed as well as how many doses were delivered.

🩺 A key 🔑 is needed to program and insert the medication syringe 💉