Patient Data Exhibits The nurse needs to determine the priority assessment before administering morphine. Select from Word Choices to complete the sentence. Before administering morphine, the most important assessment to perform is to check the client's ______________

A. Temperature: While monitoring temperature is part of routine assessment, it does not directly affect the safe administration of morphine. Fever is not an immediate contraindication to opioid use. B. Heart rate: Heart rate should be monitored, but morphine primarily depresses the respiratory system rather than significantly affecting heart rate in most cases. C. Respiratory rate: Morphine can cause respiratory depression, especially in opioid-naive or older adults. Assessing the respiratory rate before administration ensures the client can safely tolerate the medication and allows for early detection of adverse effects. D. Blood pressure: Morphine can cause hypotension, so blood pressure monitoring is important, but respiratory depression poses a more immediate life-threatening risk and takes priority before administration.