Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) Practice Exam

During recovery, what vital sign is particularly important to monitor following the administration of opioid analgesics?

1. Heart rate

2. Blood pressure

3. Respiratory rate

4. Temperature

The correct answer is: Respiratory rate

Monitoring respiratory rate is especially crucial following the administration of opioid analgesics due to the potential for respiratory depression, a significant side effect associated with these medications. Opioids act on the central nervous system to alleviate pain but can also inhibit the respiratory drive, leading to decreased respiratory effort and oxygen levels in the body. In the context of post-anesthesia recovery, vigilance is required because patients may not exhibit immediate signs of respiratory compromise. Consequently, regular monitoring of respiratory rate allows nurses to detect any changes promptly, ensuring that appropriate interventions can be implemented if respiratory depression occurs. While heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature are important vital signs to observe in the postoperative setting, they do not provide the same immediate insight into the respiratory effects of opioids. Changes in heart rate and blood pressure are often influenced by various factors, including anxiety, fluid shifts, and other medications, while temperature monitoring is more relevant to infection or systemic response rather than directly tracking the effects of analgesics. Thus, the respiratory rate remains the most critical vital sign to monitor in this context.