A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a newly licensed nurse about monitoring morphine patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Which of the following information should the nurse include?

Choice A rationale: Using PCA does not necessarily increase the client’s risk of toxicity. PCA allows the client to self-administer preset doses of pain medication, which can lead to better pain control with less risk of overdose. Choice B rationale: Diarrhea is not a common adverse effect of morphine. Constipation, not diarrhea, is a common side effect due to slowed gastrointestinal motility. Choice C rationale: Checking the client’s pain level every 8 hours is not sufficient when using PCA. Pain levels should be assessed more frequently, ideally before and after each administration of the medication. This allows for timely adjustments to the medication regimen if needed. Choice D rationale: Instructing the client’s visitors not to operate the PCA pump is crucial. Only the patient should administer doses to prevent overdose.