A patient in pain requests the prescribed pain medication, which is an opioid. Which nursing assessment is essential before administering the opioid?
Blood pressure
Temperature
Pulse
Respiratory
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: Blood pressure matters but isn’t primary; opioids rarely cause acute hypotension initially, and respiratory depression is a more immediate life-threatening risk.
Choice B reason: Temperature is unrelated; opioids don’t primarily affect fever, and this assessment doesn’t address the critical safety concern of opioid administration.
Choice C reason: Pulse is secondary; opioids may slow heart rate mildly, but respiratory suppression is the urgent risk, requiring priority monitoring before dosing.
Choice D reason: Respiratory rate is critical; opioids depress the brainstem, risking apnea, and assessing breathing ensures safety before administering this high-risk medication.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Moderate reactions don't cause breathing difficulty or hypotension. Severe symptoms indicate anaphylaxis, requiring emergency intervention.
Choice B reason: Symptoms align with anaphylaxis, not food poisoning. Assuming an unrelated cause delays life-saving treatment.
Choice C reason: Mild reactions lack systemic effects like hypotension and breathing difficulties. Antihistamines alone are insufficient for anaphylaxis.
Choice D reason: Anaphylaxis involves systemic reactions such as hypotension, airway constriction, and skin symptoms. Immediate interventions prevent progression and save lives.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Fentanyl transdermal releases slowly over hours; its onset of 12-24 hours is too delayed for rapid pain relief, suiting chronic, not acute, pain management.
Choice B reason: Oral morphine (assuming PO) takes 30-60 minutes for onset; its slower absorption via the gut delays relief compared to faster intravenous routes.
Choice C reason: Acetaminophen with oxycodone (PO) has a 30-60 minute onset; gastrointestinal absorption limits speed, making it less rapid than IV administration for acute pain.
Choice D reason: Hydromorphone IV acts within 5-10 minutes; direct bloodstream delivery bypasses digestion, providing the fastest opioid receptor activation for immediate pain relief.
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