A patient with asthma is wheezing and has a sudden drop in peak expiratory flow rate. What immediate action should the nurse take?

A. Administer a fast-acting carbohydrate as prescribed:Hypoglycemia is a primary physiological threat where the brain is deprived of its essential fuel source, glucose. Rapid administration of glucose is the first-line intervention to prevent seizures, coma, or permanent neurological damage. This action addresses the most basic biological need for metabolic substrate.

B. Check the patient's emotional response to symptoms:Emotional assessment is a higher-level need that cannot be effectively conducted while the patient is in a state of metabolic crisis. Physiological distress often manifests as irritability or anxiety, which resolves once glucose levels are normalized. The physical deficit must be corrected before evaluating the psyche.

C. Evaluate the patient's knowledge of diabetes management:Education is a component of self-actualization and long-term health maintenance. It is inappropriate to provide teaching while a patient is experiencing acute cognitive impairment from low blood sugar. Education occurs only after the patient is physiologically stable and cognitively intact.

D. Collaborate with the dietician on a long-term plan:Long-term planning is a secondary intervention focused on preventing future occurrences. It does not address the immediate, life-threatening drop in serum glucose that the patient is currently experiencing. Acute stabilization is the priority before moving to interdisciplinary long-term management strategies.

A. Antihistamines and expectorants:Antihistamines are primarily used for allergic rhinitis and may excessively dry out the sinuses, potentially worsening a headache. Expectorants help thin bronchial secretions but are not the primary treatment for sinus-related nasal congestion. This combination does not directly address the inflammatory pain of a sinus headache.

B. Antibiotics and antivirals:These agents target specific pathogens and do not provide immediate relief for the mechanical symptoms of congestion or pain. Antibiotics are only appropriate if a bacterial etiology is confirmed, and antivirals are rarely used for standard sinusitis. They lack the analgesic properties required to manage an acute headache.

C. Antitussives and mucolytics:Antitussives are used to suppress a non-productive cough and have no role in relieving sinus pressure or headaches. Mucolytics thin mucus but do not provide the vasoconstriction needed to reduce nasal passage edema. This combination fails to address the vascular and inflammatory components of the patient's manifestations.

D. Decongestants and analgesics:Decongestants like pseudoephedrine cause vasoconstriction of the nasal mucosa to reduce edema and improve drainage. Analgesics such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen target the inflammatory pathways responsible for the headache and localized facial pain. Together, they provide the most comprehensive symptomatic relief for sinusitis.