A nurse is caring for a client who has cancer and reports moderate pain. Which of the following medications should the nurse expect to administer?

A. Morphine: Morphine is a strong opioid analgesic commonly used to treat moderate to severe pain, such as cancer pain. It is the first-line treatment according to Step 3 of the WHO pain ladder, which is used for pain not adequately managed by non-opioid analgesics or weak opioids. B. Acetaminophen: Acetaminophen is used for mild pain and is part of Step 1 in the WHO pain ladder. It is not effective enough for moderate cancer pain, which requires stronger analgesics like opioids. C. Ibuprofen: Ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is typically used for mild to moderate pain and falls under Step 1 of the pain ladder. It is not adequate for moderate cancer pain and would not provide sufficient relief compared to opioids. D. Aspirin: Aspirin is another NSAID used for mild pain (Step 1 of the WHO pain ladder). Like ibuprofen, it does not provide the level of pain relief required for moderate cancer pain and is generally avoided in cancer patients due to its bleeding risk.