Question

The nurse is preparing to administer morphine sulfate to a client recently returned from surgery. Before giving the medication, what is the priority nursing assessment? A. Checking the client's respirations B. Obtaining the client's temperature C. Checking the client's blood pressure D. Counting the client's pulse rate

Short answer

Answer: The priority nursing assessment is checking the client's respirations.

Step-by-step solution

Option A: Checking the client's respirations

Morphine sulfate is an opioid analgesic that can cause respiratory depression as a side effect. It is essential to check the client's respirations before administering the medication to ensure the patient isn't already experiencing any respiratory complications. If the client's respiration is too low, the nurse might withhold the medication or administer a lower dose.

Option B: Obtaining the client's temperature

While it is important to monitor the client's temperature, especially after surgery, it is not directly related to the administration of morphine sulfate. Therefore, obtaining the client's temperature is not the priority assessment in this case.

Option C: Checking the client's blood pressure

Morphine sulfate can also cause a decrease in blood pressure. It is important to check the client's blood pressure before administering the medication. However, considering the potential respiratory depression side effect, this is not the priority assessment compared to the client's respiration.

Option D: Counting the client's pulse rate

Monitoring the client's pulse rate is important, but it is not the priority assessment in this case. The primary concern associated with the administration of morphine sulfate is respiratory depression.

Conclusion

The priority nursing assessment before administering morphine sulfate to a client recently returned from surgery is checking the client's respirations (Option A). This is crucial due to the potential side effect of respiratory depression associated with morphine sulfate use.