For which condition should naloxone be administered?

A. When the nurse is available to administer: Waiting until the nurse is available does not ensure timely delivery of a STAT medication. STAT orders are urgent and require immediate action, so delays could compromise patient safety.

B. Within one hour of being prescribed: Administering within one hour applies to routine or “now” medications in some institutions but does not meet the urgency standard for STAT orders, which demand immediate intervention.

C. When the dose is sent from the pharmacy: Receiving the medication from the pharmacy does not guarantee immediate administration. The nurse must prioritize STAT medications to prevent critical complications, rather than waiting for routine workflow timing.

D. Within 30 minutes of being prescribed: STAT medications are intended for life-threatening or urgent conditions and should be administered as quickly as possible, typically within 30 minutes of the order. This rapid timeframe helps prevent deterioration or serious adverse outcomes.

A. It indicates that the current dose is too low: Constipation is not an indicator of inadequate analgesia. Even therapeutic doses of morphine commonly cause gastrointestinal slowing regardless of pain control.

B. It is a sign that the medication is not working: Constipation does not reflect the effectiveness of morphine for pain relief. The analgesic effect may be adequate, while opioid-induced bowel effects occur independently.

C. It is an adverse effect of the morphine: Morphine binds to mu-opioid receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, reducing peristalsis and increasing water absorption from the stool. This predictable pharmacologic effect is a common adverse reaction requiring proactive bowel management.

D. It is an interaction with another medication: While drug interactions can contribute to gastrointestinal symptoms, opioid-induced constipation is a direct pharmacologic effect of morphine itself and occurs even in the absence of other medications.