Improving Outcomes in Med-surg Patients with Opioid-induced Respiratory Depression
Frank Overdyk, MSEE, MD, and Jesse Guerra, MSN, RN-BC
Overview:
From 350,000 to 750,000 in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrests occur each year in the U.S. and in about half of those, patients are receiving opioids. In addition, outcomes from in-hospital are worse on med-surg units where patients are not monitored as closely in an ICU. Nurses need to be able to better identify respiratory depression in patients who receive opioids.
Purpose/Goal: To enhance medical/surgical nurses’ understanding of opioid-induced respiratory depression.
Objectives:
1. Explain how to assess patients for opioid-induced respiratory depression.
2. State myths related to opioid use in patients with chronic pain.
3. Identify variations in individuals’ response to opioids.
Author:
Dr. Overdyk is a Professor and Board Certified Anesthesiologist with clinical and academic expertise in opioid pharmacology and respiratory physiology. He has lectured and published extensively on patient safety as it pertains to opioid therapy for acute pain management.
Jesse Guerra is a Board Certified Pain Management Nurse with clinical practice expertise in opioid pharmacology. He has practiced nursing care for patients in acute pain and has lectured on opioid safety.
The planners, reviewer, and authors of this activity have disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial companies pertaining to this activity.
Contact Hours: 1.6
Expiration Date: 12/31/2014
Pharmacology Hours: 1.6
Member Price: $15.00
Non-Member Price: $20.00