A nurse is caring for a client who has rheumatoid arthritis and is having difficulty with ADLs, such as cooking and eating. The nurse should ensure that the client has a referral to which of the following members of the interprofessional team?

Rationale:

A. Dilated pupils: Hydromorphone, an opioid, typically causes pupil constriction (miosis), not dilation. Dilated pupils may occur in opioid overdose only as a sign of severe hypoxia, but are not a common adverse effect of appropriate therapeutic dosing.

B. Urinary retention: Urinary retention is a known adverse effect of opioids like hydromorphone. Opioids can impair bladder muscle tone and suppress the urge to void by affecting central and peripheral nervous system pathways.

C. Hypertension: Hydromorphone generally causes hypotension due to vasodilation and histamine release. Hypertension is not a typical response and would more likely suggest untreated pain or another underlying condition.

D. Tachypnea: Opioids depress the respiratory center in the brain, which can lead to bradypnea rather than tachypnea. An increase in respiratory rate is not characteristic of opioid use unless it’s a response to severe, unmanaged pain.

Rationale:

A. The client needs strict measurement of intake and output: This task can be delegated to assistive personnel as it involves routine data collection without complex clinical judgment.

B. The client develops a postoperative fever: A postoperative fever may indicate infection or other complications requiring assessment, clinical judgment, and intervention by a registered nurse.

C. The client is experiencing a therapeutic effect from their treatment: Monitoring expected therapeutic effects is routine and can often be overseen by licensed practical nurses or assistive personnel, depending on policy.

D. The client needs routine wound care performed: Routine wound care is generally a delegated nursing task that does not require the advanced assessment or clinical decision-making of an RN unless complications arise.