Margaret is an 87-year old with breast cancer that has metastasized to bone and brain. She lives alone, and is checked in on by a neighbor every other day. During a home visit, Margaret complains of dull, constant pain in her back and breastbone. The nurse notes that the oxycodone tablets that he had counted out for her for the last two days are still in the pill box; Margaret cannot explain why she did not take them as prescribed. This is the second occasion when the nurse has found tablets not taken. What is an appropriate pain management strategy for Margaret?

The Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse certification exam is a 3 hour exam covering 150 multiple choice questions. It focuses on five domain practice areas: Life-limiting Conditions in Adult Patients, Pain Management, Symptom Management, Patient and Family Care and Practical Issues.