Naloxone Quiz: Can You Reverse The Overdose?

1. What is the onset of action for intravenous naloxone in reversing opioid overdose?

30-60 seconds

2-3 minutes

5-10 minutes

15-20 minutes

2. A patient overdoses on morphine. The naloxone effect begins to wear off after 30 minutes, and the patient becomes sedated again. What is the most appropriate intervention?

Observe and do nothing

Administer a repeat naloxone dose and/or start continuous infusion

Switch to a different reversal agent

Discharge the patient

3. After naloxone administration, the patient's respiratory rate is 20/min and SpO₂ is 96%. What is the next nursing action?

Discontinue oxygen immediately

Continue monitoring; maintain IV access for possible re-dosing

Discharge the patient home

Administer another naloxone dose prophylactically

4. A community health nurse teaches CPR and naloxone use to laypersons. Which statement should the nurse emphasize?

Naloxone can only be given by healthcare providers

Naloxone is safe for layperson use and may save lives

Naloxone is only for hospital use

Intranasal naloxone requires special training

5. For naloxone continuous IV infusion, the typical starting rate is:

0.005 mg/kg/hour

0.05 mg/kg/hour

0.5 mg/kg/hour

5 mg/kg/hour

6. A patient receives naloxone for codeine overdose. The patient suddenly becomes agitated and complains of body aches. What is the most likely explanation?

Allergic reaction to naloxone

Acute opioid withdrawal syndrome

Naloxone toxicity

Codeine re-absorption

7. Which opioid agonist effect will NOT be reversed by naloxone?

Respiratory depression

Miosis (pinpoint pupils)

Constipation

Sedation

8. A naloxone nasal spray contains 4 mg/0.1 mL. If a patient needs 2 mg, what volume should be administered?

0.05 mL

0.1 mL

0.2 mL

0.4 mL

9. For a patient in severe respiratory depression from fentanyl, the recommended naloxone approach is:

0.4 mg IV bolus; repeat every 2-3 minutes as needed

2 mg intranasal; do not repeat

Oral naloxone only

Wait 30 minutes before administering

10. Naloxone works by blocking opioid receptors. This mechanism is called:

Agonism

Partial agonism

Antagonism

Inverse agonism

11. A patient receives naloxone and reverses from respiratory depression. What is the priority nursing intervention?

Discharge immediately

Maintain airway, breathing, circulation; observe for re-sedation

Administer naloxone every 5 minutes

Restrict IV access

12. Which statement about intranasal naloxone is correct?

It has faster onset than IV administration

It is effective and suitable for layperson use

It cannot reverse fentanyl overdose

It requires medical training to administer

13. A patient on chronic opioid therapy receives naloxone. What adverse effect is most likely to occur?

Hypoglycemia

Acute withdrawal syndrome

Hypertension only

Bradycardia

14. Naloxone has a shorter half-life than most opioids. What nursing action is most critical after initial reversal?

Discharge the patient home immediately

Monitor for re-sedation and prepare for repeat dosing

Administer a second naloxone dose prophylactically

Keep the patient on continuous naloxone infusion

15. A patient overdoses on heroin. Which route of naloxone administration is most appropriate in an out-of-hospital setting?

Intravenous only

Intranasal or intramuscular

Oral only

Subcutaneous only

16. Naloxone is a competitive antagonist at which opioid receptor?

Mu receptor

Delta receptor

Kappa receptor

Sigma receptor

17. True or False: Naloxone is effective against all opioids, including synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

True

False

18. True or False: Naloxone can be safely given to patients with unknown ingestions without risk of adverse effects.

True

False

19. The usual initial IV dose of naloxone for opioid overdose is:

0.04 mg

0.4 mg

4 mg

40 mg

20. Naloxone is contraindicated in which patient population?

Patients with opioid use disorder

Patients with renal impairment

There are no absolute contraindications in overdose

Pregnant patients only

Naloxone Quiz: Can You Reverse the Overdose?