An emergency department nurse admits a client who has tried to commit suicide by taking an overdose of hydromorphone (Dilaudid), a narcotic. For which acid-base imbalance should the nurse assess this client for?

Rationale: A. Respiratory alkalosis results from hyperventilation, which is unlikely with opioid overdose. B. Metabolic acidosis can occur from other causes but is not the primary imbalance here. C. Metabolic alkalosis is not associated with opioid overdose. D. Respiratory acidosis occurs due to hypoventilation caused by opioid-induced respiratory depression, leading to CO₂ retention and decreased pH.