What nursing action should be included in the care plan for a client receiving morphine sulfate subcutaneously?

Encouraging the client to cough and deep breathe is a critical nursing action for a patient receiving morphine sulfate subcutaneously. Morphine is an opioid analgesic commonly used for pain management, but it can lead to respiratory depression as a side effect. The enhanced sedation caused by morphine may impair the client's ability to breathe effectively, increasing the risk of respiratory complications such as atelectasis (collapse of part or all of a lung).

By encouraging the client to cough and deep breathe, the nurse helps maintain lung expansion, promotes secretion clearance, and minimizes the risk of respiratory complications. This is particularly important in clients who may have decreased respiratory drive due to opioid administration. Regular encouragement of deep breathing exercises can improve oxygenation and enhance overall pulmonary function.

The other options, while relevant to different aspects of patient care, do not directly address the immediate respiratory risks associated with morphine administration in the same way that promoting coughing and deep breathing does.