The nurse checks a patient for pain relief 1 hour after administering 15 mg of morphine intramuscularly. The patient is sleeping and has a respiratory rate of 10 breaths per minute. What is the nurse's best first action?
a. Attempt to arouse the patient by calling his or her name and lightly shaking the arm.
b. Administer oxygen by mask or nasal cannula and notify the prescriber.
c. Check the patient's oxygen saturation and raise the head of the bed.
d. Document the finding as the only action.
A
Many patients experience some degree of respiratory depression with opioid analgesics. If the patient can be aroused with minimally-intrusive techniques and the respiratory rate increases spontaneously, no further intervention is required.
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