When a smiling and cooperative patient complains of discomfort, nurses caring for this patient often harbor misconceptions about the patient's pain. Which of the following is true?

A. Auscultation. Auscultation involves listening to internal body sounds, usually with a stethoscope, such as heart, lung, or bowel sounds. It is not used for assessing the radial pulse.
B. Percussion. Percussion is the technique of tapping on body surfaces to assess underlying structures, such as detecting fluid in the lungs or assessing organ size. It is not used to assess pulses.
C. Palpation. Palpation involves using the fingers to feel for the radial pulse by applying gentle pressure over the radial artery at the wrist. This is the correct method for assessing a patient's radial pulse.
D. Inspection. Inspection involves visually examining the patient for abnormalities such as skin color, swelling, or deformities. It does not provide information about pulse rate or rhythm.

A. Irritating cough. Opioid agonists do not typically cause an irritating cough. In fact, opioids like codeine are used as antitussives to suppress cough reflexes.
B. Tachypnea. Opioids depress the central nervous system, leading to respiratory depression rather than an increased respiratory rate (tachypnea). The nurse should monitor for bradypnea instead.
C. Hypertension. Opioids commonly cause hypotension due to vasodilation and central nervous system depression. Hypertension is not a typical adverse effect.
D. Urinary retention. Opioids can increase sphincter tone and suppress the urge to void, leading to urinary retention. This is a known side effect and should be monitored, especially in older adults or those with underlying bladder issues.