A nurse is preparing to administer an enteric-coated oral medication to a client who is having difficulty swallowing.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Choice A rationale:

Increased temperature is not a direct indication of naloxone’s effectiveness. Naloxone works by reversing the effects of opioids, which do not typically include fever.

Choice B rationale:

While naloxone can cause an abrupt withdrawal in opioid-dependent individuals, leading to symptoms such as hypertension, it does not typically decrease blood pressure in opioid overdose cases.

Choice C rationale:

Naloxone works by reversing the life-threatening depression of the central nervous system and respiratory system caused by an opioid overdose. Therefore, an increased respiratory rate after administration would indicate that the medication is effective.

Choice D rationale:

Naloxone reverses the effects of opioids, including pain relief. Therefore, a report of decreased pain would not indicate that the medication is effective.

Choice A rationale:

Asking the client to demonstrate dose delivery can be part of patient education and helps ensure that the client understands how to use the PCA device. This action does not require intervention.

Choice B rationale:

The nurse administering a PCA dose for the client requires intervention. PCA stands for “Patient-Controlled Analgesia,” meaning that only the patient should administer doses to themselves. This prevents overdosing and ensures that pain medication is administered according to the patient’s needs.

Choice C rationale:

Reassuring the client that the PCA device will not cause an overdose is appropriate because PCA devices are designed with safety measures to prevent overdosing.

Choice D rationale:

Monitoring for oversedation is an important part of care for a client using a PCA device. This action does not require intervention.