A nurse is planning to teach a client about taking prednisone. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
Take on an empty stomach.
Schedule dosage at bedtime.
Increase dietary calcium.
Monitor for weight loss.
The Correct Answer is C
A. Prednisone should generally be taken with food or after a meal to reduce the risk of gastric irritation or ulcer formation. Taking it on an empty stomach can irritate the stomach lining and increase the risk of gastrointestinal side effects, such as gastritis or peptic ulcers.
B. While some medications are best taken at bedtime (such as those with sedative effects), prednisone is a corticosteroid that can affect the body's circadian rhythm and may interfere with sleep. It typically causes insomnia or restlessness, so it’s usually advised to take it in the morning.
C. Prednisone and other corticosteroids can lead to bone loss (osteoporosis) over time, especially with long-term use. One of the side effects of corticosteroid therapy is decreased calcium absorption and bone density loss, making individuals at higher risk for fractures.
D. Prednisone more commonly causes weight gain rather than weight loss. Corticosteroids increase appetite and can lead to fluid retention, both of which can result in weight gain. Additionally, prednisone can cause redistribution of fat, often leading to characteristic side effects like "moon face" or increased abdominal fat.
B. Incorrect. Prednisone is often prescribed as a single daily dose in the morning to coincide with the body's natural cortisol release.
C. Incorrect. While calcium supplementation might be necessary for some individuals on long-term prednisone therapy, it is not a primary instruction related to taking prednisone.
D. Correct. Monitoring for weight loss is important due to the potential for weight changes (both weight gain and weight loss) as a result of prednisone's effects on metabolism and appetite.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Correct. At 12 weeks of gestation, the nurse should position the ultrasound stethoscope above the symphysis pubis to assess the fetal heart rate.
B. Fundal height measurement is used to assess uterine growth and is not applicable for assessing fetal heart rate.
C. Placing the client in a side-lying position is not necessary for assessing fetal heart rate at 12 weeks of gestation.
D. Leopold maneuvers are used to determine fetal position and lie and are not directly related to auscultating the fetal heart rate.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Correct. The child should be instructed to blow into the peak expiratory flow meter as hard and quickly as possible to achieve maximal effort. This provides an accurate measure of peak expiratory flow, which is important in assessing asthma control.
B. Incorrect. The child's body position during testing does not typically affect the accuracy of peak expiratory flow measurements.
C. Incorrect. While recording the average of multiple readings over time is important, the child needs to understand how to perform a single accurate reading first.
D. Incorrect. The tongue is not usually involved in the use of a peak expiratory flow meter.
The child should place their lips tightly around the mouthpiece to create a seal while blowing forcefully into the device.
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