what to do in case of respiratory depression?

Fish Feng · Mar 5, 2009

i thought --- it depends on

aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN · Mar 5, 2009

You need to talk to your instructor and find out what the facility you are in does.

The facility that I work in as a tech has standing orders of narcan for anyone who is recieving narcotics. The nurses give the med first then call the doc.

Michael_65 · Mar 5, 2009

Same here. If a patient is getting narcs then there is a standing order for Narcan PRN. Protocol for RD is give Naran then call rapid response. House Doc is automatically there because s/he heads up the rapid response team.

Another unit I worked on takes it a step further and instead of simply having Narcan available on the unit, has a dose of Narcan ready to be given in the patient room, usually taped to the IV pole.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2009

In all my years of working as an RN I never had to give Narcan (naloxone). Rescue breathe for the patient and contact the doctor. As a manager, Narcan was never even kept on our unit as an emergency medication. The only places that I ever saw it as a supervisor was in the OR, ER and PACU. We had specific policies that only certain nurses could give it and only with an MD present. Yes, it required an MD order and it could not be administered without a doctor's order. When Narcan is given to reverse the effects of opiates, it is an intensive care procedure, the effect is immediate and dramatic and emergency help needs to be available ready.