To maintain adequate pain control in a post-surgical patient addicted to heroin, a nurse should...

For a post-surgical patient with a history of heroin addiction, a PCA (patient-controlled analgesia) with both continuous and on-demand opioid delivery ensures consistent pain control and addresses both baseline pain and breakthrough pain. This approach helps manage pain more effectively and can prevent withdrawal symptoms in patients with opioid tolerance. References: = AACN Certification and Core Review for High Acuity and Critical Care, 7th Edition, AACN Handbook for CCRN Certification, pp. 88-90.