Author Question: A client is given a postoperative opioid drug for pain relief. The nurse observes that the drug has ... (Read 73 times)

piesebel · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

A client is given a postoperative opioid drug for pain relief. The nurse observes that the drug has slowed the client's breathing pattern. Which of the following reasons would the nurse most likely identify as the cause of the lowered breathing pattern?

A) Anxiety
B) Somnolence
C) Nausea
D) Anorexia

Question 2

A client with chronic back pain is admitted to a local health care facility for respiratory depression secondary to an inadvertent overdose of his opioid analgesic. The client is to receive naloxone.

Which of the following would the nurse include before administering naloxone?

A) Monitor the client's blood pressure every 5 minutes.
B) Review the client's allergy history and treatment modalities.
C) Monitor vital signs every 5 to 15 minutes if the client is responsive.
D) Monitor respiratory rate and rhythm of the client.

underwood14 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Ans: B
Feedback:
The nurse should identify somnolence as a cause of slowing of the client's breathing pattern. Sometimes the somnolence and pain relief produced by the opioid drug can slow the client's breathing pattern. Anxiety, nausea, and anorexia are not known to be responsible for slowing down a client's breathing pattern when the client is administered an opioid drug.

Answer to Question 2

Ans: B
Feedback:
Before administering the antagonist, the nurse should review the client's initial health history, allergy history, and treatment modalities. The nurse should also obtain the client's blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate and review the record for the drug suspected of causing the symptoms of respiratory depression. All these interventions are part of the preadministration assessment, which is conducted before the administration of the drug. Monitoring the client's blood pressure every 5 minutes until the client responds, monitoring vital signs every 5 to 15 minutes if the client is responsive, and monitoring the client's respiratory rate and rhythm are all interventions involved in the ongoing assessment of the client that the nurse performs while the client is undergoing the drug therapy.