If someone else presses the PCA button, what should you do?

If someone else presses the PCA button, what should you do?

• A. Report to RN
• B. Ignore
• C. Provide more analgesia
• D. Remove PCA

Answer: (A)

When a PCA button is pressed by someone other than the patient, the priority is patient safety and staying in line with the prescribed analgesia plan. Tell the RN right away so they can verify the patient, review the PCA settings, assess the patient's pain and vital signs, and decide if any adjustments or actions are needed. Ignoring it or attempting to adjust or remove the pump yourself can lead to overdose, under-treatment, or disruption of the analgesia plan.

When a PCA button is pressed by someone other than the patient, the priority is patient safety and staying in line with the prescribed analgesia plan. Tell the RN right away so they can verify the patient, review the PCA settings, assess the patient's pain and vital signs, and decide if any adjustments or actions are needed. Ignoring it or attempting to adjust or remove the pump yourself can lead to overdose, under-treatment, or disruption of the analgesia plan.