The client asks the nurse why she must continue taking her asthma medication even though she has not had an asthma attack in several months. What is the best response by the nurse?

Question

1. "The medication needs to be taken indefinitely according to your doctor, so you should discuss this with him."
2. "The medication is still needed to decrease inflammation in your airways and help prevent an attack."
3. "The medication needs to be taken or your lungs will be severely damaged and we will not be able to stop an acute attack."
4. "The medication needs to be taken for at least a year; then, if you have not had an acute attack, you can stop it."

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: The nurse is able to answer the client's question; it does not need to be referred to the physician.
Rationale 2: Effective treatment of asthma includes long-term treatment to prevent attacks and decrease inflammation, as well as short-term treatment when an attack occurs.
Rationale 3: Telling a client that his or her lungs will be severely damaged is nontherapeutic; the inability to prevent an acute attack in this client is not true.
Rationale 4: Long-term treatment of asthma continues indefinitely, not for just one year.