The nurse is monitoring a client who is receiving morphine for ...

[Charlie]

The nurse is monitoring a client who is receiving morphine for severe pain for signs of central nervous system depression. Which medication should the nurse prepare to administer if an adverse reaction to morphine occurs?
 
  1. The agonist morphine
  2. A drug with a longer half-life than morphine
  3. A loading dose of antihistamines
  4. An antagonist, such as naloxone (Narcan)

Question 2

An older client who received an oral pain medication asks why the pain still seems intense. What should the nurse respond to this client?
 
  1. You have a decreased amount of fat body weight.
  2. You have reduced kidney blood flow.
  3. You have increased liver blood flow.
  4. Your stomach is slower at emptying.

[janeli1]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: 4

1. Narcan is an antagonist. Morphine is an agonist.
2. A drug with a longer half-life takes longer to be eliminated and would not be used to counter the effects of morphine.
3. Antihistamines block histamines and are not used to counter the effects of morphine. A loading dose would not be beneficial.
4. Narcan is an antagonist and will reverse the effects of a narcotic such as morphine.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: 4

1. The older client has a decreased amount of lean body weight, which affects distribution of the drug.
2. Reduced blood flow to the kidney affects the excretion, not the effectiveness, of the drug.
3. Drugs are processed by the liver, which has decreased blood flow and thus a slower processing rate.
4. As clients age, the stomach empties more slowly. This makes the absorption time longer than in a younger client. For older clients in significant pain the nurse might consider a different route of administration, such as IV or IM.

[Charlie]

Excellent

[tkempin]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it