NCLEX RN Practice Question

The correct answer is to support the client's airway and provide supplemental oxygen as needed. Shallow respirations and low oxygen saturation are indicators of respiratory depression, a known complication of moderate sedation. Ensuring adequate oxygenation is the immediate priority to prevent hypoxia and further deterioration. Administering a reversal agent, such as flumazenil or naloxone, may be necessary if respiratory efforts stop completely or if oxygenation cannot be maintained, but this is not the initial step. Monitoring alone does not address the immediate issue, and notifying the provider is secondary to stabilizing the client's airway.