RN Exam Practice
Pharmacological and Parenteral TherapiesQuestion 282 of 2368

A family member worries that morphine given for a dying client's dyspnea will hasten death. Which response by the nurse is best?

  1. "Small doses of opioids can ease breathlessness with little effect on life expectancy."
  2. "Opioids will likely shorten life, but the suffering from breathlessness is worse."
  3. "Opioids are only used to treat pain and are not used to relieve breathlessness."
  4. "Opioids dry the lungs and can cause respiratory failure in dying clients."
Show answer

Correct answer: "Small doses of opioids can ease breathlessness with little effect on life expectancy."

Relatively small opioid doses improve dyspnea with little impact on respiratory status or life expectancy.

Source: Nursing Fundamentals, 2nd edition (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2024), Grief and Loss: Dyspnea. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026