A nurse is caring for a client who has respiratory depression from an opioid administration.
After administering naloxone to the client, which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

The correct answer is choiceb. Obtain a CBC with differential.

Choice A rationale:

Drawing blood specimens for culture and sensitivity is not typically required before a cardiac catheterization unless there is a specific concern about infection.

Choice B rationale:

Obtaining a CBC with differential is important to assess the client’s overall health and detect any potential issues such as anemia or infection that could complicate the procedure.

Choice C rationale:

Transporting the client to radiology for a CT scan is not a standard pre-procedure task for cardiac catheterization. This might be necessary if there are specific indications, but it is not routine.

Choice D rationale:

Administering nitroglycerin 0.4 mg SL 30 minutes before the procedure is not a standard practice for preparing a client for cardiac catheterization.Nitroglycerin is typically used to manage chest pain or angina, not as a pre-procedure medication.

The correct answer is A. Increased pain.

Choice A reason: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that, when administered, reverses the effects of opioids. Since opioids provide analgesia, their reversal will lead to the return of pain sensation. The normal pain response varies widely among individuals and depends on the type and amount of opioid the patient received, as well as their pain threshold and tolerance.

Choice B reason: Somnolence, or drowsiness, is a common effect of opioid administration. Naloxone works by displacing opioids from their receptors, which should counteract the sedative effects of opioids and reduce somnolence. Therefore, after naloxone administration, the nurse should not expect somnolence as a finding.

Choice C reason: Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, is not a direct effect of naloxone administration. While some studies suggest that naloxone may affect blood glucose levels under certain conditions, such as in the case of tramadol overdose, it does not typically cause hyperglycemia. Normal blood glucose levels range from 70 to 99 mg/dL fasting, and up to 140 mg/dL two hours after eating.

Choice D reason: Hypoventilation, or reduced breathing rate and depth, is caused by opioid administration. Naloxone’s role is to reverse this effect, restoring normal breathing rates. The normal respiratory rate for a healthy adult at rest is 12 to 20 breaths per minute.