Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 79%
Simulated
A nurse is assisting in the care of a patient who is receiving pain medication by the epidural route. It is most important to monitor this patient for which adverse drug effects?
Correct answer
B
Rationale
The correct answer is B: Hypoventilation. When a patient receives pain medication through the epidural route, there is a risk of the medication affecting the respiratory drive, leading to hypoventilation. This can result in decreased oxygen levels and potential respiratory distress. Monitoring for hypoventilation is crucial to prevent respiratory compromise.
Constipation (Choice A) is a common side effect of opioids but is not the most important adverse effect to monitor in this case. Nausea (Choice C) and headache (Choice D) can occur with pain medication but are not as critical as hypoventilation in this scenario.
Constipation (Choice A) is a common side effect of opioids but is not the most important adverse effect to monitor in this case. Nausea (Choice C) and headache (Choice D) can occur with pain medication but are not as critical as hypoventilation in this scenario.