morphine

Patient/Family Teaching

• Instruct patient how and when to ask for pain medication.
• May cause drowsiness or dizziness. Caution patient to call for assistance when ambulating or smoking and to avoid driving or other activities requiring alertness until response to medication is known.
• Advise patient to change positions slowly to minimize orthostatic hypotension.
• Caution patient to avoid concurrent use of alcohol or other CNS depressants with this medication.
• Encourage patients who are immobilized or on prolonged bedrest to turn, cough, and breathe deeply every 2 hr to prevent atelectasis.
Home Care Issues:

• High Alert: Explain to patient and family how and when to administer morphine and how to care for infusion equipment properly. Pedi: Teach parents or caregivers how to accurately measure liquid medication and to use only the measuring device dispensed with the medication.
  • Emphasize the importance of aggressive prevention of constipation with the use of morphine.