A nurse on a pediatric unit is caring for a toddler who has poor dietary intake. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A. Administer granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. This medication stimulates neutrophil production in clients with severe neutropenia, such as those undergoing chemotherapy. While HIV can cause neutropenia, routine administration is not necessary unless the infant has recurrent infections and significantly low neutrophil counts.
B. Monitor the infant's lymphocyte count. CD4+ T-cell levels are key indicators of immune function in infants with HIV. Since HIV targets these cells, regular monitoring helps assess disease progression and the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy, guiding treatment adjustments when needed.
C. Educate the infant's guardians about exchange transfusions. Exchange transfusions are used for conditions like severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia or sickle cell disease, not HIV. Managing HIV in infants focuses on early antiretroviral therapy, routine lab monitoring, and infection prevention.
D. Initiate droplet precautions. Standard precautions, such as hand hygiene and appropriate use of personal protective equipment, are sufficient for infection control. HIV is not transmitted through respiratory droplets but through direct contact with infected blood, breast milk, or other bodily fluids.

A. "I should use my inhaler before exercising." Budesonide is an inhaled corticosteroid used for long-term asthma control, not for immediate prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm. A short-acting beta-agonist (e.g., albuterol) should be used before exercise to prevent bronchospasm.
B. "I should use my inhaler when I have an asthma attack." Budesonide is not a rescue inhaler. It is used daily to reduce airway inflammation and prevent asthma exacerbations. During an acute asthma attack, a fast-acting bronchodilator, such as albuterol, should be used instead.
C. "I will rinse my mouth and gargle with water after each inhaler treatment." Rinsing the mouth after using an inhaled corticosteroid helps prevent oral candidiasis (thrush), a common side effect of steroid inhalers. This practice also reduces irritation and hoarseness associated with corticosteroid use.
D. "I will take my inhaler treatment before each meal and at bedtime." Budesonide is not taken on a strict schedule tied to meals or bedtime. It is usually administered once or twice daily, as prescribed, to maintain consistent anti-inflammatory effects.