Question

The primary purpose of administering morphine sulfate to the cardiogenic shock patient is to:

A.) Relieve pain and decrease myocardial oxygen demand.
B.) Increase preload and afterload to the heart.
C.) Relieve anxiety by calming the patient.
D.) Relieve pain by decreasing shortness of breath.

Answer 1

Morphine sulfate is administered to cardiogenic shock patients primarily to relieve pain and lower the heart's oxygen requirements by decreasing its workload.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary purpose of administering morphine sulfate to the cardiogenic shock patient is to relieve pain and decrease myocardial oxygen demand. Morphine sulfate is a powerful analgesic that relieves severe pain, which is critically important in conditions like cardiogenic shock that result from the heart's inability to maintain cardiac output, often due to a myocardial infarction (heart attack). By relieving pain, the heart's workload is reduced, thus decreasing myocardial oxygen demand, which can help stabilize the patient's condition.