Place the nursing actions in order for a postoperative client with suspected opioid-induced respiratory depression.
Ordered Response
Choose your responses, then check the answer.
Explanation
Stop further opioid delivery and call for help while assessing ABCs. Support airway and ventilation immediately; oxygen alone does not correct inadequate ventilation. Give prescribed naloxone, repeat it when necessary, and continue surveillance because the opioid effect can outlast naloxone.
Correct sequence Stop opioid and call for help → open the airway and support ventilation → give naloxone → repeat naloxone if needed → monitor for recurrence and manage pain safely.
Why this is correct Naloxone reverses opioid respiratory and central nervous system depression, but rescue begins with airway and ventilation. Many opioids act longer than naloxone, so an initial response does not end the emergency.
NCLEX decision rule Ventilate first, reverse the cause, then watch for renarcotization. Do not leave the client because the respiratory rate briefly improves.
References
1FDA naloxone prescribing information
2NCSBN 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan
Opioid adverse effectThe client receiving IV opioid analgesia is difficult to arouse, has shallow respirations of 7/min, and has a pulse oximetry reading of 86%. Emergency airway equipment and prescribed naloxone are available.
Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression — Inadequate ventilation caused by opioid effects, often accompanied by increasing sedation and slow or shallow breathing.
Naloxone — An opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid-related respiratory and central nervous system depression.
Renarcotization — Return of opioid toxicity after naloxone effect decreases while the opioid remains active.