A home care nurse administers oral morphine to the patient with cancer pain. When will the nurse expect the medication to reach peak activity?

Choice A rationale Oral morphine typically reaches peak activity at around 45 minutes after administration. This allows time for the medication to be absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and enter the bloodstream to provide pain relief. Choice B rationale 10 minutes is too short for oral morphine to reach peak activity. This timeframe is more consistent with intravenous administration, which allows for rapid onset of action. Choice C rationale 30 minutes is a bit too short for oral morphine to reach peak effect, although some patients may start to feel relief. However, peak plasma concentrations generally occur closer to 45-60 minutes. Choice D rationale While morphine can continue to have effects up to 60 minutes and beyond, the peak activity is typically observed around the 45-minute mark. Waiting for 60 minutes may underestimate the peak timeframe.