How many hours must pass before a nurse can administer another dose of oxycodone for Ms. Yu?

The correct choice indicates that a nurse can administer another dose of oxycodone for Ms. Yu every 4-6 hours. This dosing schedule is based on the pharmacokinetics and safety profile of oxycodone, which is commonly used for pain management.

Oxycodone is an opioid analgesic that provides effective relief from moderate to severe pain, but it also carries a risk of side effects, including respiratory depression and sedation. To minimize these risks while ensuring effective pain control, healthcare providers typically adhere to guidelines that suggest a dosing interval of 4-6 hours. This allows for enough time for the medication to be metabolized and cleared from the body before administering another dose.

Dosing oxycodone more frequently, such as every hour or every two hours, could lead to an accumulation of the drug and increase the potential for overdose and adverse effects. A longer interval, such as every 8 hours, might not address the patient’s pain effectively if they are experiencing a higher level of discomfort. Therefore, the recommended interval of every 4-6 hours strikes a balance between effective pain management and patient safety.