A client with lung cancer who wears a subcutaneous morphine sulfate patch for pain is short of breath and is difficult to arouse. When performing a head to toe assessment, the nurse discovers four analgesic patches on the client's body. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
Measure the client's blood pressure.
Remove all of the morphine patches.
Apply oxygen per face mask.
Administer a narcotic antagonist.
The Correct Answer is D
A. Measure the client's blood pressure:
While monitoring blood pressure is an important aspect of assessing a client's overall condition, it is not the immediate priority in a suspected opioid overdose. Respiratory depression and difficulty in arousing are more critical concerns that warrant prompt intervention with naloxone.
B. Remove all of the morphine patches:
While eventually, the nurse will need to address the presence of multiple morphine patches, removing them is not the first action. Administering naloxone to reverse the opioid effects takes precedence over patch removal.
C. Apply oxygen per face mask:
While providing oxygen may be necessary to support respiratory function, it doesn't address the underlying cause of the respiratory distress, which is likely opioid toxicity. Administering naloxone is the more direct and immediate intervention to counteract the effects of the opioids.
D. Administer a narcotic antagonist:
This is the correct and immediate priority. If the client is difficult to arouse and has multiple morphine patches, it raises concerns about opioid toxicity. Naloxone is a narcotic antagonist that can reverse the effects of opioid overdose, particularly respiratory depression, and is crucial in this scenario to restore normal respiratory function.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Begin continuous observation for transient episodes of neurologic dysfunction:
While continuous observation is important, the priority is to notify the stroke team for immediate assessment and management.
B. Place an indwelling urinary catheter and measure strict intake and output:
Monitoring intake and output is an important aspect of nursing care, but it is not the immediate priority when the client is presenting with signs and symptoms suggestive of a stroke.
C. Notify the stroke team to assist with acute assessment and management.
The client's symptoms, including an uneven smile with facial droop to the right side, weaker hand grasp strength on the right, and sudden, severe headache, are indicative of potential stroke symptoms. Quick notification of the stroke team is crucial to facilitate a rapid and comprehensive assessment. Time is a critical factor in the management of stroke, and prompt intervention can improve outcomes.
D. Raise the head of the bed to 30 degrees keeping head and neck in neutral alignment:
While positioning is important for maintaining physiological stability, it is not the immediate priority in the context of a potential stroke. Notifying the stroke team for rapid assessment and intervention takes precedence.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Reduced pain in eczematous areas:
While hydration of the skin may contribute to reduced pain in some cases, the primary goal of urea cream is to moisturize and hydrate the skin rather than directly address pain.
B. Healing with a return to normal skin appearance:
Urea cream can contribute to the healing process by hydrating the skin and promoting the removal of dry, scaly skin. However, complete healing and a return to normal skin appearance may also depend on the underlying cause of eczema and other factors.
C. Decreased weeping of ulcerations in affected areas:
Urea cream can help reduce excessive dryness and weeping in eczematous areas by promoting hydration and moisture balance. However, it may not directly address ulcerations, and other interventions may be needed for open wounds.
D. Hydration of affected dry skin areas:
This is the correct answer. Urea is a natural moisturizing factor that helps retain water in the skin. Applying urea cream to affected dry skin areas is expected to hydrate the skin, reduce dryness, and improve the overall moisture balance.
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