The nurse is caring for 4 clients being treated for pain. Which client does the nurse see first as the priority?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Since sedation usually precedes respiratory depression, the client's level of sedation is the most critical parameter for predicting respiratory depression in clients receiving intravenous opioids. The client "sleeping heavily" could actually be over-sedated, so the nurse's priority is to assess this client. The nurse would next assess the posttrauma client because any IV opioid can cause respiratory depression plus the half-life of IV medications is short, and the client might be in pain again. The nurse next assesses the postpartum client as the oral medication is working by now and any side effects will start to become apparent. The postprocedure client may only need repositioning; the nurse delegates this to unlicensed personnel with instructions that include any positioning restrictions.

The Nurse Is Caring for 4 Clients Being Treated for Pain