Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA)

What is a PCA?

• A PCA is a unit attached to the IV pump that delivers pain medication prescribed by your doctor/nurse practitioner.
• The PCA helps manage pain but does not always make pain go away completely.
• The PCA delivers pain medication through your intravenous (IV) line. It can be given continuously, as needed by the patient, or both.

PCA Benefits

• Pain relief is individualized for each patient.
• There is less wait time to receive a dose of medication.

How is a PCA used?

• The nurse will program the PCA as prescribed by the doctor/nurse practitioner.
• If programmed to include the PCA button for pain management:
  • The patient is the only person who is allowed to push the button. Parents should
    never push the button for the patient.
  • When in pain, the patient can push the PCA button and a dose of pain medication will be delivered by the PCA. This is called a demand dose.
  • After each dose, there is a prescribed amount of time (lock‐out) before another dose can be given. If the button is pushed before the time has passed, the PCA device does not give medication. This ensures that only the amount of medication prescribed is given.

How is the therapy monitored?

Once therapy starts, your nurse will closely monitor the patient’s response to the
medication, which includes pain level and vital signs.

Pulse Oximeter

The patient will be monitored with a pulse oximeter. A pulse oximeter is a monitor
that is attached to the patient with a sticky bandage. It checks levels of oxygen in
the blood.

• Patients receiving continuous medication from the PCA will be continuously monitored by a pulse oximeter.
• Those who are only receiving medication when they push the PCA button will have a pulse oximeter monitor for the first 24 hours and then regular checks with vital signs.

When should you alert your nurse or doctor?

• If the pain is not being managed by the PCA
• If there is discomfort in the IV
• If the patient has symptoms of itching or nausea