Question

A nurse is assessing a client who's receiving morphine via IV bolus for pain following a c-section. The nurse notes a respiratory rate of 8/min. Which medication should the nurse administer?

A. Naloxone
B. Lorazepam
C. Furosemide
D. Acetaminophen

Answer 1

The nurse should administer Naloxone to the client experiencing respiratory depression due to morphine, as it is an opiate antagonist that reverses opioid effects.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse assessing a client who has a respiratory rate of 8/min following administration of morphine via IV bolus for post-operative pain after a c-section should administer Naloxone. This medication acts as an opiate antagonist, meaning it counteracts the effects of opioids like morphine. In instances where opioids have caused respiratory depression, Naloxone is used to reverse these effects, helping the person resume normal breathing and regain consciousness. It is specifically indicated for the reversal of respiratory depression due to acute narcotic intoxication or narcotic-induced respiratory depression.

Answer 2

A nurse assessing a client who is receiving morphine via IV bolus and is exhibiting a respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute is observing signs of opioid-induced respiratory depression. In this scenario, the appropriate medication to administer would be Naloxone (Option A).

Step-by-step explanation:

The appropriate medication for a client exhibiting signs of opioid-induced respiratory depression from morphine is Naloxone, an opiate antagonist that reverses the effects of opioids.

This drug acts as an opiate antagonist, meaning it quickly reverses the effects of opioids such as morphine, which include pain relief or analgesia, euphoria, and potential respiratory depression in high doses.

Naloxone rapidly restores normal respiration by displacing opioids from the receptors they have bound to in the brain.

It is particularly useful in acute situations to counteract life-threatening depression of the central nervous system and respiratory system.

Hence, the correct answer is Option A.