Question

The nurse caring for a client receiving opioid therapy notes that the client's respirations are 7. What is the first action by the nurse?

a) Physically stimulate client.
b) Take the client's blood pressure.
c) Begin cardiac compressions.
d) Administer Narcan.

Answer 1

The nurse's first action should be to administer Narcan (naloxone) in response to a client's low respiratory rate caused by opioid therapy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The first action a nurse should take when caring for a client receiving opioid therapy who has a respiratory rate of 7 is to administer Narcan (naloxone). This is because opioids can cause significant respiratory depression, leading to a dangerously low rate of breathing. Naloxone is an opiate antagonist that can rapidly reverse the effects of opioids, including respiratory depression. It is given with the intention to restore normal breathing in the event of an opioid overdose. While the other options might be part of the response, they are not the immediate first step when faced with a potential opioid overdose.