Question

Jackie Gardner is a 20-year-old college cheerleader who is brought to the emergency department (ED) after landing incorrectly during a stunt and injuring her right ankle. The ED healthcare provider makes the diagnosis of a right ankle fracture and orders an IV narcotic for pain relief while waiting for the orthopedic surgeon to evaluate her injury. Thirty minutes after you administer the medication, you return to evaluate her response to the medication. Which will you include in your evaluation?

1) Ability to move ankle
2) Respiratory status
3) Client's sleep patterns
4) Vital signs
5) Client's reported pain level

Answer 1

A post-administration assessment of Jackie Gardner's response to an IV narcotic should primarily focus on her respiratory status, vital signs, and reported pain level to ensure the medication is effective and safe.

Step-by-step explanation:

When evaluating Jackie Gardner's response to the IV narcotic medication for her right ankle fracture, it is essential to assess certain aspects of her condition. Important criteria for evaluation include her respiratory status due to the risk of respiratory depression caused by narcotics, her vital signs which can indicate the overall state of her body, such as blood pressure and heart rate changes as a result of the medication, and the client's reported pain level to determine the effectiveness of the pain relief provided by the narcotic. Assessing the ability to move the ankle or client's sleep patterns would not be immediately relevant when evaluating the medication's effect on acute pain relief after administration for an ankle fracture.