Patient Education: Post-Op Norspan Patch Instructions

This assignment focuses on patient education regarding the Norspan transdermal patch, prescribed for post-operative pain management in a 47-year-old woman with a history of ulcerative colitis. The assignment simulates a nurse-patient interaction, providing a script that covers medication details (Buprenorphine), dosage (10mg), usage instructions, precautions (avoiding heat, alcohol, and driving), and addressing the patient's concerns about addiction and side effects. The nurse explains the patch's mechanism of action, duration of use, and emphasizes the importance of adhering to instructions and avoiding alterations like cutting the patch. The assignment references relevant medical literature to support the information provided, including sources on buprenorphine, pain management, and discharge planning, ensuring the patient receives comprehensive and accurate information to facilitate a safe and effective recovery. The aim is to provide the patient with the necessary information to manage their pain effectively and safely following surgery, and to alleviate any anxieties surrounding the medication and its potential side effects.

Running head:PATIENT EDUCATION
Patient Discharge Plan
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1PATIENT EDUCATION
Patient Context
The patient is a 47-year-old woman with a long history of ulcerative colitis. She is
currently five days post-operation and is being prepared for discharge. Her daughter Sharon
will be staying with her for the next month.
Cues Collected From the Scenario
The cues collected from the scenario are as follows-
 She is apprehensive regarding taking pain medications because she is afraid of getting
addicted.
 She is uncomfortable in some situations.
Medication
Norspan 10mg transdermal patch has been prescribed to the patient for a period of
seven days. This medication consists of Buprenorphine as its active ingredient, which is a
partial opioid agonist. It acts at the mu-opioid receptor. It has an analgesic effect and
dissociates slowly after binding to the mu-opioid receptor, which accounts for a prolonged
effect. It has a similar impact on the cardiovascular system as other opioids (Site). This patch
has been prescribed to the patient as it has proven to be effective in controlling postoperative
pain. Since the patient did not want to get addicted to opioids, she has been prescribed 10 mg,
which has fewer rescue requirements (Kumar et al. 2016).
Script Justification
Good morning Mrs. Morris, I am a Katie, a registered nurse,
and I am currently handling this shift. I am here to make sure
that you have all the necessary information that you need
about the Norspan transdermal patch that you have been
It is seen that introducing
yourself to the patient leads
to effective communication

2PATIENT EDUCATION
prescribed. Is your pain okay now? Would you mind having
a conversation?
(Guest 2016)
My pain is better; thank you. And not at all, I want to know
about what you guys are giving me.
Okay, so these are Norspan 10 mg Transdermal Patches.
They are these brown coloured patches that will help you get
rid of the pain. Once the patch is applied, the medication will
slowly enter the bloodstream and act on the pain.
These are not strong, are they? I don’t want to get addicted.
Not at all. You have been prescribed a lower dose, which is
10 mg, That too only for a week. So there are minimal
chances of having withdrawal symptoms. Now, let us talk
about the drug itself. I will give you an overview of the
precautions and uses, and then we can discuss any questions
that you may have. Do you know how to use it?
It has been seen that when
10 mg is tapered at the
seven-day use, it has much
lower chances of
developing addiction
(Vartan 2014).
I know we need to stick it on my skin and let it be. That’s
about it.
That is the gist of it. You must use it on a clear patch of skin,
make sure that the area does not contain any irritation and
the skin is intact. Do not apply the patch on the skin with
huge scars as they might affect the functions of the
medication. It should be applied to nearly hairless skin, and
somewhere such as the upper arm or upper chest. You must
wear the patch for seven days straight.
This direction for using the
patches are most effective
(Medlineplus.gov 2020).
Now that we have discussed the necessities let us come to To keep the patches safe,

3PATIENT EDUCATION
the precautions. These are certain safety measures you must
take in order to ensure that the medication is working its
best. Firstly, you must not expose the patch to heating pads
or electric blankets after applying.
they must be kept away
from heat (Medsafe.govt.nz
2020).
Secondly, I would advise you to abstain from using alcohol
and driving for this week. You might have some side effects
like feeling dizzy, unsteady, or loss of balance. However,
you should definitely inform us if you feel anything is
serious. Let us know if you feel nauseated as well.
It has been seen that this
has a dizzying effect on the
body and it often makes the
body sleepy
(Medlineplus.gov 2020).
Can I cut the patch to make it smaller? I don’t want to get
addicted, and I can hide a smaller patch much easier.
No. You should never cut or tear the patch in any way. Do
not use the patch if it is torn or cut. This can cause serious
consequences as the medicine may enter your body
irregularly. It can enter all at once or none at all. This can
lead to drug overdose, and it is very serious. Please do not do
it.
Cutting the patches or
using a higher dose is
extremely harmful
(Medicines.org.uk, 2020)
Okay, nurse, I’ll remember that. Thank you.
You are welcome. Do you have any other questions or
concerns? If you do not, here is an information sheet I have
prepared for you to take home so that you would not forget
It has been seen that giving
the patients a Hospital
Leaving Information Sheet

4PATIENT EDUCATION
the information. Feel free to contact us if you need any help
regarding the medications or any issues. You can get in
touch with the physician herself or me. Take care of
yourself.
is often helpful (New,
McDougall and Scroggie,
2016).

5PATIENT EDUCATION
References
Guest, M., 2016. How to introduce yourself to patients. Nursing standard, 30(41).
Kumar, S., Chaudhary, A.K., Singh, P.K., Verma, R., Chandra, G., Bhatia, V.K., Singh, D.
and Bogra, J., 2016. Transdermal buprenorphine patches for postoperative pain control in
abdominal surgery. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research: JCDR, 10(6), p.UC05.
Medicines.org.uk, 2020. Butrans 5 Microgram/Hour Transdermal Patch - Patient
Information Leaflet (PIL) - (Emc). [online] Medicines.org.uk. Available at:
<https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/124/pil> [Accessed 23 March 2020].
Medlineplus.gov, 2020. Buprenorphine Transdermal Patch: Medlineplus Drug Information.
[online] Available at: <https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a613042.html> [Accessed 23
March 2020].
Medsafe.govt.nz, 2020. [online] Available at:
<https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/n/Norspanpatch.pdf> [Accessed 23 March
2020].
New, P.W., McDougall, K.E. and Scroggie, C.P.R., 2016. Improving discharge planning
communication between hospitals and patients. Internal medicine journal, 46(1), pp.57-62.
Site, A., NORSPAN® TRANSDERMAL PATCH.
Vartan, C.M., 2014. Buprenorphine Transdermal Patch: An Overview for Use in Chronic
Pain. US Pharm, 10, p.16.