A 7-year-old patient who has severe asthma takes oral prednisone daily. At a well-child examination, the primary care NP notes a decrease in the child's linear growth rate. The NP should consult the child's asthma specialist about:
a. gradually tapering the child off the prednisone.
b. a referral for possible growth hormone therapy.
c. giving a double dose of prednisone every other day.
d. dividing the prednisone dose into twice-daily dosing.
C
Administration of a double dose of a glucocorticoid every other morning has been found to cause less suppression of the HPA axis and less growth suppression in children. Because the child has severe asthma, an oral steroid is necessary. Growth hormone therapy is not indicated. Twice-daily dosing would not change the HPA axis suppression.
You might also like to view...
Which factor best represents a driving force in the process of change?
1. An ineffective nurse manager 2. An administration composed of long-term employees 3. A staff composed of long-term employees 4. A financial deficit of millions of dollars
When teaching a patient with asthma how to use a metered dose inhaler (MDI) correctly, it is important to emphasize which of the following?
A) Rapid breathing during treatment to facilitate more medication in lungs B) Allow 5 minutes between each puff C) Hold breath as medication is released D) Position inhaler approximately 1 to 2 inches from the open mouth
A 71-year-old man has presented to his nurse practitioner's clinic complaining of abdominal and flank pain and blood in his urine for the past 48 hours. Assessment reveals the man's temperature is 102°F orally
Which of the following health problems should the nurse first suspect? A) Bladder cancer B) Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) C) Renal calculi D) Testicular cancer
When planning to evaluate a patient's satisfaction with a teaching activity, what is the most appropriate strategy?
a. Include a survey instrument. b. Observe for level of skill mastery. c. Present information more than one time. d. Provide for a return demonstration.