Naloxone has been titrated to a postoperative client with opioid-induced respiratory depression. Which finding best indicates an effective response?
1The client remains difficult to arouse with respirations of 7/min and SpO2 86%.
2The client is arousable, respirations are 12/min, and SpO2 is 95% with prescribed oxygen.✓ Correct answer
3The client has severe pain, agitation, vomiting, and respirations of 30/min.
4The client is unresponsive and vomits while lying supine.
Explanation
Naloxone is titrated to restore adequate ventilation and arousability while preserving as much analgesia as possible. An arousable client with respirations of 12/min and improving oxygen saturation demonstrates an effective response (option 2). Persistent bradypnea and hypoxemia indicate inadequate reversal. Severe pain, agitation, or vomiting may indicate excessive or abrupt reversal and requires reassessment. An unresponsive client who vomits is at immediate aspiration risk.
Clinical Judgment Use the client cues, timing, labs, and safety risks to select the response that best fits Opioid respiratory depression.
Memory Tip Match the strongest cue cluster to the safest nursing judgment.
KR vs US NCLEX items reward cue-based priority thinking rather than isolated recall.
Clinical Practice GuideFor Opioid respiratory depression, compare the complete cue pattern with the client's current stability, ordered data, and expected nursing scope.
CautionDo not choose an action from one isolated cue when the full scenario changes priority or safety.
Morphine — An opioid analgesic that can depress respirations at excessive doses or in sensitive clients.
Respiratory Depression — Inadequate breathing rate or depth that can reduce oxygenation.
Naloxone — An opioid antagonist used to reverse serious opioid effects.