The nurse visits a hospice client and assesses a respiratory rate of 8 breaths/minute and the client states "I am having severe pain." Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement at this time?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The goal of opioid use in terminally ill clients is effective pain relief regardless of adverse effects such as respiratory depression. The rule of double effect provides ethical justification for administering an increased morphine dose to provide effective pain control even though the morphine may further decrease the client's respiratory rate. A nonopioid analgesic like ibuprofen would not provide adequate analgesia or be absorbed quickly.

The Nurse Visits a Hospice Client and Assesses a Respiratory