Question

after receiving nalbuphine hydrochloride (nubain), labor progresses rapidly and the baby is born less than 1 hour later. the baby shows signs of respiratory depression. which medication should the nurse be prepared to administer to the newborn?

Answer 1

The nurse should administer naloxone (Narcan) to a newborn showing signs of respiratory depression after the mother has received nalbuphine hydrochloride during labor.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a baby born after labor that has been induced or augmented with medications such as nalbuphine hydrochloride shows signs of respiratory depression, the nurse should be prepared to administer naloxone (Narcan). Naloxone is an opiate antagonist that rapidly reverses the effects of narcotics, including respiratory depression, without producing analgesia or euphoria. It is particularly useful for reversing narcotic-induced respiratory depression in newborns whose mothers received narcotics during labor. However, the nurse should be aware that the use of naloxone in newborns is limited by its short duration of action and the necessity for parenteral (injection) administration.