Final answer:
The nurse should carefully consider the patient's respiratory status, risk of aspiration, and perioperative care plans before administering zolpidem tartrate for sleep, especially in the context of an upcoming surgery. Safety is paramount, so alternative non-pharmacological sleep aids may be considered if there is any concern about respiratory depression.
Step-by-step explanation:
Given the patient's request for a sleeping pill and considering their upcoming surgery, the nurse should evaluate the appropriateness of administering zolpidem tartrate. The patient's current oxygen saturation is 95%, which is an improvement from the last reading of 89% during sleep. However, since zolpidem may depress the respiratory system, the nurse must consider the safety of giving the medication given the history of low respiratory rate and oxygen saturation during sleep. Prior to providing any sedative, the nurse should ensure the patient's airway and risk of aspiration have been evaluated, as well as verify if there are any contraindications for using zolpidem in the context of the patient's overall health status and surgical plan.
The nurse should also confirm the patient's identity, surgical site and procedure, and consent, as well as ascertain all team members are aware of any known allergies. As part of the patient's safety during perioperative care, it's critical that the surgeon, nurse, and anesthesia professional are prepared with the necessary equipment and are aware of the patient's condition, including the use of supportive devices like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines if the patient has sleep apnea.
The decision to administer the sleeping pill should be taken after considering all these factors and in close consultation with the anesthesia professional. If the medication is deemed too risky, alternative measures such as relaxation techniques or cognitive-behavioral therapy may be suggested to aid the patient's sleep without endangering their respiratory status before surgery.