The nurse prepares to give a patient the next scheduled dose of an opioid analgesic.The patient arouses easily but the respiratory rate remains at 10 breaths per minute.What is the nurse's best first action?

Question

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Many people experience mild respiratory depression with opioid analgesics.If the patient is easily arousable and the oxygen saturation is at normal levels,it is not necessary to apply oxygen,call the Rapid Response Team,or prepare to administer an opioid antagonist.If the patient's oxygen saturation level is acceptable and he or she is in pain,it is alright to give the next scheduled opioid dose.Checking the patient's normal respiratory rate is also a good idea.Most people have a usual respiratory rate that is at least 12 breaths per minute,but some patients may have a usual rate of only 10 breaths per minute.Although this is not a customary response and you should document it in the nursing notes,check other indicators of breathing adequacy before notifying the prescriber.

The Nurse Prepares to Give a Patient the Next Scheduled