Final answer:
Postoperative follow-up after administering an opioid analgesic should prioritize assessments of (a) respiratory rate and level of consciousness, (b) blood pressure, and (e) pain level to monitor for immediate side effects and ensure effective pain management.
Step-by-step explanation:
After administering an opioid analgesic postoperatively, the nurse should prioritize certain follow-up assessments to monitor for potential side effects and ensure patient safety.
The five follow-up assessments listed are all relevant, but as the question instructs to select all that apply, key priorities include:
- Respiratory rate and level of consciousness: Opioids can depress the respiratory system, so it is critical to monitor the patient's breathing to prevent respiratory depression. Additionally, the level of consciousness should be tracked to identify any signs of overdose or adverse effects.
- Blood pressure: Opioids can lead to changes in blood pressure, so it's essential to monitor this vital sign.
- Pain level: Assessing the effectiveness of the analgesic is important for pain management.
- Interactions with foods and other medications: While this is an important consideration, especially given opioids' potential for interaction with various substances, it is generally less immediate than monitoring for respiratory depression and changes in vital signs.
- History of drug abuse and pain management history: These are long-term considerations which may inform overall pain management strategy and risk assessment for opioid use, but they are not as immediately critical in postoperative follow-up as the direct physiological effects.
Upon the administration of opioids, the patient should be monitored closely by a healthcare professional like a nurse, who will be vigilant for signs of respiratory depression and other vital signs changes, ensuring patient safety through attentive and responsive care.