HESI RN Med Surg
HESI RN Med Surg ( 40 Questions)
A school-age child with bronchial asthma has a prescription for albuterol. The child's parent tells the nurse that the medication is used when the child is having difficulty breathing. Which is the best response by the nurse?
Recommending that the parent bring the child in for immediate evaluation is not the best response by the nurse. This may cause unnecessary anxiety and expense for the parent and the child. Albuterol is a bronchodilator that relaxes the muscles in the airways and increases air flow to the lungs. It is used to treat or prevent bronchospasm, or narrowing of the airways, in people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm. It is a quick-relief medication that can be used as needed when the child has difficulty breathing.
Advising the parent that over-use of the medication may cause chronic bronchitis is not the best response by the nurse. This is not true and may discourage the parent from giving the medication to the child when needed. Chronic bronchitis is a type of COPD that causes inflammation and mucus production in the airways. It is usually caused by smoking or exposure to air pollution, not by albuterol. Albuterol does not cause chronic bronchitis, but it can help relieve the symptoms of bronchospasm in people who have it.
Confirming that the medication helps to reduce airway inflammation is not the best response by the nurse. This is not accurate and may confuse the parent. Albuterol does not reduce airway inflammation, but it relaxes the muscles around the airways so that they open up and the child can breathe more easily. Albuterol is not an anti-inflammatory medication, but a bronchodilator. Anti-inflammatory medications, such as corticosteroids, are used to prevent or reduce inflammation in the airways, but they are not quick-relief medications like albuterol.
Assuring the parent that they are using the medication correctly is the best response by the nurse. This shows that the nurse understands the purpose and the proper use of albuterol and that the nurse supports the parent's decision to give the medication to the child when needed. The nurse should also educate the parent on how to use the inhaler device correctly, how to monitor the child's symptoms and peak flow, and when to seek medical attention if the child's condition worsens.
Choice A reason: Recommending that the parent bring the child in for immediate evaluation is not the best response by the nurse. This may cause unnecessary anxiety and expense for the parent and the child. Albuterol is a bronchodilator that relaxes the muscles in the airways and increases air flow to the lungs. It is used to treat or prevent bronchospasm, or narrowing of the airways, in people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm. It is a quick-relief medication that can be used as needed when the child has difficulty breathing.
Choice B reason: Advising the parent that over-use of the medication may cause chronic bronchitis is not the best response by the nurse. This is not true and may discourage the parent from giving the medication to the child when needed. Chronic bronchitis is a type of COPD that causes inflammation and mucus production in the airways. It is usually caused by smoking or exposure to air pollution, not by albuterol. Albuterol does not cause chronic bronchitis, but it can help relieve the symptoms of bronchospasm in people who have it.
Choice C reason: Confirming that the medication helps to reduce airway inflammation is not the best response by the nurse. This is not accurate and may confuse the parent. Albuterol does not reduce airway inflammation, but it relaxes the muscles around the airways so that they open up and the child can breathe more easily. Albuterol is not an anti-inflammatory medication, but a bronchodilator. Anti-inflammatory medications, such as corticosteroids, are used to prevent or reduce inflammation in the airways, but they are not quick-relief medications like albuterol.
Choice D reason: Assuring the parent that they are using the medication correctly is the best response by the nurse. This shows that the nurse understands the purpose and the proper use of albuterol and that the nurse supports the parent's decision to give the medication to the child when needed. The nurse should also educate the parent on how to use the inhaler device correctly, how to monitor the child's symptoms and peak flow, and when to seek medical attention if the child's condition worsens.