Just looking for validation....
Pt with severe COPD scheduled for surgery to repair a fracture was on the floor. Sats all over the place; mostly 90's with venti but pt wouldn't leave it on & drop to 50-70's. Back on nasal cannula, pt would leave it on & stay mostly in the 80's. Big mouth breather. Monitored by ICU with tele & continuous pulse ox.
When I checked on the pt after a call from ICU re sats dropping again, pt looked like a fish out of water, unable to match slower breaths with me, sats staying in low 80's, accessory muscle use, RR 22-26....
I suggested to the pt's nurse maybe give a little morphine (I assumed it may have been ordered for pain control d/t fracture) & felt like I was smacked in the face when his nurse with 20+years experience stated "What?! You want to give granny who can't breathe respiratory depression?"
SMH...please tell me I'm right.