A patient is breathing very slowly after receiving an opioid analgesic and is difficult to arouse. Which action should the nurse take first?
Correct answer: A. Open the airway and assess breathing immediately
- A. Open the airway and assess breathing immediately
- B. Offer water and ask the patient to walk
- C. Document the sedation and reassess after one hour
- D. Place the patient in a quiet room to promote sleep
Explanation
Marked sedation and slow breathing indicate possible opioid-induced respiratory depression. Airway and breathing take priority, so the nurse should open the airway, assess ventilation and call for urgent assistance as needed.
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About Respiratory System
The respiratory system includes the air passages, lungs, pleura, alveoli and the mechanics of breathing. It explains pulmonary ventilation, gas exchange, oxygen and carbon dioxide transport, regulation of breathing, and the difference between external respiration in the lungs and internal respiration in body tissues.
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