A postoperative client who received IV morphine is difficult to arouse and has respirations of 7/min. Which medication should the nurse anticipate administering?
1Naloxone.✓ Correct answer
2Protamine sulfate.
3Vitamin K.
4Flumazenil.
Explanation
Naloxone reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression and is anticipated when a client has decreased level of consciousness and slow respirations after morphine. Flumazenil reverses benzodiazepines, protamine reverses heparin, and vitamin K reverses warfarin effects over time.
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.
Naloxone — An opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid toxicity.
Respiratory Depression — Reduced ventilation that can cause hypoxemia and carbon dioxide retention.
Morphine — An opioid analgesic that can suppress respirations.