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    Ati Pn Pharmacology 2023 Proctored Exam

    A nurse is collecting data from a client who has taken an overdose of oxycodone. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

    Explanation & Rationale

    A. Opioid overdose typically results in central nervous system depression, which can lead to bradycardia (slow heart rate) rather than tachycardia. Bradycardia occurs due to decreased sympathetic nervous system activity. B. Bradyppnea is a common finding in opioid overdose due to the depressive effect of opioids on the respiratory center in the brainstem. Opioids can suppress the drive to breathe, leading to shallow and rapid breathing, or even respiratory arrest in severe cases. C. Sedation or drowsiness is a hallmark feature of opioid overdose. Oxycodone, like other opioids, acts on the central nervous system to produce analgesia and sedation. In cases of overdose, sedation may progress to unconsciousness and respiratory depression, which can be life-threatening. D. Opioid overdose typically causes pinpoint (constricted) pupils rather than dilated pupils. The constriction of pupils, known as miosis, is a classic sign of opioid toxicity due to the suppression of the sympathetic nervous system.

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