You are taking care of 4 clients who are receiving opioid analgesics for pain management. Which patient is MOST likely to be experiencing a life-threatening opioid side effect?

Patient with respiratory rate of 10 breaths/min who is breathing deeply.

Patient with a respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min who is snoring.

Patient with blood pressure of 150/75 mm Hg and heart rate of 102 beats/min.

Patient with a temperature of 100.5°F who is asleep but easily roused.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Choice A reason: A respiratory rate of 10 breaths/min with deep breathing is low but less concerning than 8 breaths/min with snoring, indicating potential airway obstruction. Respiratory depression is the primary opioid risk, making this incorrect compared to the more severe respiratory compromise.

Choice B reason: A respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min with snoring suggests severe opioid-induced respiratory depression, a life-threatening side effect requiring immediate intervention. This aligns with opioid safety monitoring, making it the correct patient most likely experiencing a critical opioid adverse effect.

Choice C reason: Elevated blood pressure and heart rate suggest pain or stress, not respiratory depression, the primary opioid danger. A low respiratory rate with snoring is more critical, making this incorrect, as it doesn’t indicate a life-threatening opioid side effect.

Choice D reason: A temperature of 100.5°F and being easily roused suggest mild fever, not respiratory depression. Snoring with a rate of 8 breaths/min is more dangerous, making this incorrect, as it doesn’t reflect a life-threatening opioid effect in the patient.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Normal ABG values (pH 7.40, CO2 39) don’t reflect COPD’s chronic hypercapnia and compensated acidosis. pH 7.32 with elevated CO2 is typical, making this incorrect, as it doesn’t match the nurse’s expected findings in a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Choice B reason: In COPD, chronic CO2 retention (57 mEq/L) causes respiratory acidosis (pH 7.32) with compensatory HCO3 increase (26 mEq/L). Low PaO2 (85 mm Hg) reflects hypoxemia. This aligns with COPD pathophysiology, making it the correct ABG finding the nurse anticipates in this client.

Choice C reason: Alkalotic pH (7.47) and low CO2 (30 mEq/L) suggest hyperventilation, not COPD’s CO2 retention. Acidosis with high CO2 is expected, making this incorrect, as it contradicts the typical ABG profile in the nurse’s assessment of a COPD client.

Choice D reason: Low CO2 (22 mEq/L) and acidosis (pH 7.30) suggest metabolic acidosis, not COPD’s respiratory acidosis with hypercapnia. Elevated CO2 is typical, making this incorrect, as it doesn’t reflect the nurse’s expected ABG findings in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

A. Clamp the T-tube. B. Irrigate the T-tube. C. Notify the surgeon. D. Document the findings.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason: Clamping the T-tube risks bile backup and infection, especially with 750 mL drainage. Notifying the surgeon addresses potential complications, making this incorrect, as it’s unsafe compared to the nurse’s priority of reporting excessive T-tube output.

Choice B reason: Irrigating the T-tube without medical orders risks dislodging it or causing infection. Notifying the surgeon is appropriate for 750 mL drainage, making this incorrect, as it’s risky compared to the nurse’s action to seek medical evaluation.

Choice C reason: Notifying the surgeon is most appropriate, as 750 mL of T-tube drainage may indicate a complication like bile leak or obstruction. This aligns with post-surgical care protocols, making it the correct intervention for the nurse to address excessive drainage.

Choice D reason: Documenting is necessary but doesn’t address the potential complication of 750 mL drainage. Notifying the surgeon is urgent, making this incorrect, as it delays the nurse’s priority of reporting a significant post-surgical T-tube output to the surgeon.

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You are taking care of 4 clients who are receiving opioid analgesics for pain management. Which patient is MOST likely to be experiencing a life-threatening opioid side effect?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse caring for a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) anticipates which arterial blood gas (ABG) findings?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

The nurse notes that a client’s T-tube has drained 750 mL of green-brown drainage since the surgery. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Which client will the nurse recognize as having the greatest risk for development of hypocalcemia?

The newly licensed RN overhears two nurses talking in the elevator about a client who will lose her leg because of negligence of the staff. Which action by the newly licensed RN would be implemented first?

A client with acute kidney injury has a serum potassium level of 7.0 mEq/L (7.0 mmol/L). The nurse would plan which actions as a priority? (Select all that apply)

After teaching a client with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a nurse assesses the client’s understanding. Which menu selection indicates that the client correctly understands the dietary teaching?

A nurse in an emergency department is caring for a client who has a blood pressure of 254/139 mm Hg. The nurse recognizes that the client is in a hypertensive crisis. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

The nurse cares for a client with 0.9% sodium chloride infusing at 125 mL/h. 2 hours after the infusion was started, the client’s central venous pressure (CVP) reading is 16 cm H2O. It is MOST important for the nurse to take which action?