Question

question: 15 of 19
a nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following abdominal surgery and reports incisional pain. the surgeon has prescribed morphine 4 mg iv bolus every 6 hr as needed. before administering this medication, the nurse should complete which priority assessment?
blood pressure
apical heart rate
respiratory rate
temperature

Explanation:

Morphine is an opioid analgesic that can cause respiratory depression, a serious and potentially life-threatening side effect. For a postoperative client, assessing respiratory rate before administration is critical to ensure the client’s ability to tolerate the medication without compromising ventilation. While other vital signs are important, respiratory rate is the priority assessment for opioid administration.

Answer:

Respiratory rate