The nurse is preparing to administer morphine sulfate, an opioid analgesic, to a client who reports pain at level 8 on a scale of 0 to 10. Which action should the nurse take first?
A.
Assess the client’s respiratory rate.
B.
Check the client’s allergy history.
C.
Review the client’s medication record.
D.
Verify the dosage with another nurse.
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is B. Check the client’s allergy history.
Explanation:
Administering morphine sulfate, a potent opioid analgesic, requires careful consideration of the client’s safety. The first action a nurse should take before giving any medication is to verify if the client has any allergies. This includes allergies to medications, particularly opioids, as opioid allergies or intolerances can lead to serious reactions like anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction) or other adverse effects.
Here’s why checking allergy history comes first:
- Patient Safety: Ensuring the client isn’t allergic to morphine or opioids is crucial. Administering a medication to which the patient is allergic can result in a medical emergency.
- Standard Protocol: Allergy checks are a fundamental part of safe medication administration practices. Even if the patient has received opioids before, there is still a chance of developing a sensitivity or allergy over time.
- Avoiding Adverse Reactions: Morphine is known for potential side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and, in rare cases, allergic reactions. Checking the client’s allergy history helps mitigate the risk of adverse drug events.
While the other options are important in the medication administration process, they follow after verifying allergies:
- A. Assessing the respiratory rate is critical, especially for opioids, which can cause respiratory depression. However, checking for allergies comes first because allergies present an immediate and significant risk.
- C. Reviewing the medication record helps ensure the nurse is aware of other drugs the patient is taking, which could interact with morphine.
- D. Verifying the dosage with another nurse may be required for high-alert medications, but it is not the first action unless the medication has already been deemed appropriate for the patient.
Hence, the nurse’s first priority is to check the allergy history to ensure patient safety.