What is a potential side effect of opioids that a PACU RN must monitor for?

Monitoring for respiratory depression is critical for a PACU RN due to the central nervous system effects of opioids. Opioids can significantly depress the respiratory centers in the brain, leading to a decrease in the respiratory rate and depth. This can result in inadequate ventilation and oxygenation, which can be life-threatening.

Respiratory depression can manifest as shallow breathing, a reduced rate of breaths per minute, and altered levels of consciousness. In the PACU setting, where patients are closely monitored following anesthesia, recognizing signs of respiratory depression is essential for timely intervention, which may include administering naloxone or providing supplemental oxygen and increased monitoring.

While side effects such as nausea and constipation also occur with opioid use, respiratory depression poses the most immediate threat to the patient’s safety and requires vigilant monitoring.