Naloxone is administered to an adult client following a suicide attempt with an overdose of hydrocodone bitartrate. Within 15 minutes, the client is alert and oriented. In planning nursing care, which intervention has the highest priority at this time?

Determine the client’s reason for attempting suicide.

Obtain the client’s serum hydrocodone/acetaminophen level.

Encourage the client to increase fluid intake.

Observe the client for further narcotic effects.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

A. Determine the client’s reason for attempting suicide: While assessing suicidal intent is important, the immediate priority is ensuring the client's physiological stability. Suicidal ideation can be addressed once the client is medically stable.

B. Obtain the client’s serum hydrocodone/acetaminophen level: This may be ordered, but it is not the highest priority. Clinical observation is more urgent, especially because naloxone has a shorter half-life than many opioids, including hydrocodone.

C. Encourage the client to increase fluid intake: This is not a priority intervention in the immediate post-overdose period and does not address the risk of opioid rebound toxicity.

D. Observe the client for further narcotic effects: Naloxone has a short duration of action (typically 30–90 minutes), whereas hydrocodone has a longer half-life. Once naloxone wears off, respiratory depression and sedation can recur. Continuous monitoring is critical to ensure timely re-administration if opioid effects return.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. Assessing the usual level of activity and average sleep pattern is relevant but does not directly address the observed symptoms related to speech and tongue movements.
B. Blood pressure assessment is important for overall health monitoring but is not the most immediate concern related to the observed speech and tongue abnormalities.
C. Assessing the fit of dentures is crucial in this context, as poorly fitted dentures could contribute to speech difficulties and tongue abnormalities.
D. Body weight assessment is important for overall health but is not the most immediate concern in this situation. Assessing denture fit addresses the observed speech and tongue abnormalities more directly.

A. Have you experienced recent stresses? B. What foods do you like to eat? C. Do you often feel sad? D. Have you experienced sleep changes?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. Inquiring about recent stresses is relevant but may not specifically address the emotional state associated with depression.
B. Asking about food preferences is important for a comprehensive assessment but may not be the most direct question for assessing depression.
C. Inquiring about whether the client often feels sad is crucial for assessing the emotional aspect of depression.
D. While changes in sleep patterns are significant, the question about feeling sad directly addresses the emotional component of depression, which is important for a comprehensive assessment.

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Naloxone is administered to an adult client following a suicide attempt with an overdose of hydrocodone bitartrate. Within 15 minutes, the client is alert and oriented. In planning nursing care, which intervention has the highest priority at this time?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

While assessing a client with the diagnosis of schizophrenia who wears dentures, the nurse observes that the client’s tongue is “worming”. The client also demonstrates an inability to articulate words clearly. Which additional assessment is most important for the nurse to obtain?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A client at the mental health center reports difficulty concentrating at work, feeling very tired during the day, and sleeping 4 to 5 hours at night. To further assess for depression, which question is most important for the nurse to ask?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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