A Terminally Ill Patient You Are Caring for Is Complaining

Multiple Choice

A terminally ill patient you are caring for is complaining of pain. The physician has ordered a large dose of intravenous opioids by continuous infusion. You know that one of the adverse effects of this medicine is respiratory depression. When you assess your patients respiratory status, you find that the rate has decreased from 16 breaths per minute to 10 breaths per minute. What action should you take?

A) Decrease the rate of IV infusion.
B) Stimulate the patient in order to increase respiratory rate.
C) Report the decreased respiratory rate to the physician.
D) Allow the patient to rest comfortably.