What is the priority assessment before giving meperidine?

Before administering meperidine, the priority assessment is the respiratory rate. Meperidine is an opioid analgesic that can cause respiratory depression, a potentially life-threatening side effect, particularly in patients who may already have compromised respiratory function or those who are opioid-naïve.

Monitoring the respiratory rate helps ensure the patient is breathing adequately before giving the medication. If the respiratory rate is below normal, administering meperidine could exacerbate the risk of respiratory depression, leading to serious complications such as hypoxia or respiratory failure. Therefore, ensuring that the patient has a safe respiratory rate is crucial in the context of opioid administration.

While heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature are important assessments in the overall evaluation of a patient's condition, they are not as directly impact by the administration of meperidine as the respiratory rate. In situations where respiratory depression is a risk, prioritizing respiratory evaluation is essential to provide safe and effective care.