After receiving the first dose of an opioid drug,a patient is sleeping and has a respiratory rate of less than 8 per minute.When called by name the patient does not respond.What is your next best action?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the patient is receiving an opioid for the first time or when the drug dosage has been increased,if the respiratory rate is 8 or less and the patient is sleeping,try to wake him or her.First call the patient's name.If there is no response,gently shake his or her arm or leg.Shake more firmly if needed.If the patient does not respond to these actions,use a slightly stronger trigger (without using enough force to cause harm)such as squeezing the trapezius muscle (located at the angle of the shoulder and neck muscle)or applying pressure to the nail bed.

After Receiving the First Dose of an Opioid Drug,a Patient