What nursing action best alleviates Mr. Kingsley's throat discomfort?

What nursing action best alleviates Mr. Kingsley's throat discomfort?

• A. Drink warm fluids
• B. Administer aspirin
• C. Administer acetaminophen (Tylenol) elixir or pills
• D. Place a heating pad around the throat

Answer: (C)

Relieving pain and fever is the goal when a patient has throat discomfort. Acetaminophen provides analgesia and antipyretic effects with the fewest gastrointestinal side effects compared with aspirin. That makes it a safer, more tolerable option for sore throat in adults, helping to lessen throat pain and any accompanying fever without the gastric irritation or bleeding risk that aspirin can cause. Drinking warm fluids can comfort the throat but doesn’t address pain as effectively, and a heating pad around the neck poses a burn risk and again doesn’t relieve the underlying discomfort. Aspirin also carries more GI risk and isn’t the preferred choice for throat pain. If using acetaminophen, it’s important to dose within recommended limits and be mindful of other products containing acetaminophen to avoid overdose, especially if alcohol is consumed.

Relieving pain and fever is the goal when a patient has throat discomfort. Acetaminophen provides analgesia and antipyretic effects with the fewest gastrointestinal side effects compared with aspirin. That makes it a safer, more tolerable option for sore throat in adults, helping to lessen throat pain and any accompanying fever without the gastric irritation or bleeding risk that aspirin can cause.

Drinking warm fluids can comfort the throat but doesn’t address pain as effectively, and a heating pad around the neck poses a burn risk and again doesn’t relieve the underlying discomfort. Aspirin also carries more GI risk and isn’t the preferred choice for throat pain. If using acetaminophen, it’s important to dose within recommended limits and be mindful of other products containing acetaminophen to avoid overdose, especially if alcohol is consumed.