A PCA pump delivers analgesia via IV and includes a safety cap to prevent exceeding the prescribed dose. Which option best describes a PCA pump?

• A. It goes into an IV and has a cap so that the person cannot go over the prescribed dose
• B. It is administered as a tablet taken by mouth
• C. It is injected intramuscularly
• D. It is a topical patch

Answer: (A)

A PCA pump is an electronic device that delivers analgesia through an IV (sometimes subcutaneously) and includes built-in safety features, such as a dose cap or lockout, to prevent the patient from receiving more than what is prescribed. This combination—IV administration plus a safeguard that limits total dosing—is what defines a PCA pump.

The option describing IV delivery with a cap best fits because PCA pumps are designed for patient-activated, self-administered doses within predefined limits, not for tablets taken by mouth, injections given IM by a clinician, or topical patches that provide continuous release without a pump-based, dose-limiting mechanism.