Question

A 62-year-old female client with severe depression and psychotic symptoms is scheduled for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) tomorrow morning. The client's daughter asks the nurse, "How painful will the treatment be for Mom?" The nurse should respond by saying which of the following?1. "Your mother will be given something for pain before the treatment."2. "The physician will make sure your mother doesn't suffer needlessly."3. "Your mother will be asleep during the treatment and will not be in pain."4. "Your mother will be able talk to us and tell us if she's in pain."

Answer 1

Answer:

3. "Your mother will be asleep during the treatment and will not be in pain."

Explanation:

The nurse is supposed to enlighten him that ECT is a safe treatment and that his mom will  be given an ultra- short-acting anesthetic to make her sleep before ECT and a drug to relax her muscle just to prevent musculoskeletal complications during the seizures, which normally lasts between thirty to sisty seconds to be therapeutic.

Atropine will be given prior to the ECT to inhibit salivation and respiratory tract secretions and in that way reduce the risk of aspiration. The daughter should also be assured that the physician will make sure that the client does not suffer needlessly in providing accurate information about ECT.