What response should a nurse expect from a client who used cocaine one hour ago?

The expected response from a client who has used cocaine one hour ago is elevated temperature. Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that affects the central nervous system, leading to increased metabolic rates and sympathetic nervous system activation. This activation can cause hyperthermia, which is a rise in body temperature. Stimulants like cocaine can increase heart rates, respiration rates, and cause peripheral vasoconstriction, all of which contribute to an increase in overall body temperature.

In contrast, the other options are not typically associated with cocaine use. Bradycardia, or a slow heart rate, is not a common effect of cocaine, as it usually causes an increase in heart rate. Respiratory depression is generally linked to depressant drugs, while cocaine use is associated with stimulation rather than suppression of the respiratory system. Confusion might occur in some situations, but it is not a primary or immediate symptom of recent cocaine use, especially within just one hour post-use, as the stimulant effects tend to keep the user alert rather than confused.