What will the nurse discourage when providing education to parents of a child with asthma? (Select all that apply.)

Choice A rationale

Black and tarry stools (melena) typically indicate upper gastrointestinal bleeding, where digested blood causes the dark color. This is not a characteristic of steatorrhea, which is caused by the presence of undigested fat. Steatorrhea results from pancreatic enzyme insufficiency, a common feature of cystic fibrosis.

Choice B rationale

Steatorrheaic stools are classically described as frothy, foul-smelling, and fatty due to the malabsorption of fats. The lack of pancreatic lipase, a characteristic of cystic fibrosis, prevents proper fat digestion. This undigested fat is then excreted, leading to stools that are bulky, pale, and often float due to their high fat content.

Choice C rationale

Clay-colored stools are indicative of a lack of bile pigment, suggesting an obstruction of the bile ducts or liver dysfunction. While liver involvement can occur in cystic fibrosis, clay-colored stools are not the primary descriptor for steatorrhea resulting from pancreatic insufficiency.

Choice D rationale

Orange or green stools are not typical descriptions for steatorrhea. Orange stools can sometimes be due to certain medications or foods, while green stools can result from rapid transit through the digestive system, where bile has not had time to be fully broken down. Neither describes the characteristic appearance of fatty stools.

Choice A rationale

A peak flow meter measures the maximum speed of exhalation, providing information about airflow obstruction and lung function. While useful for monitoring asthma control, it does not address the patient's difficulty coordinating MDI activation with breathing. It's a diagnostic tool, not a coordination aid.

Choice B rationale

A spacer device is a valved holding chamber that attaches to the MDI. It simplifies inhalation by holding the aerosolized medication, allowing the patient to inhale it slowly and deeply without requiring precise coordination between activation and inspiration. This significantly improves drug delivery to the lungs.

Choice C rationale

Notifying the prescriber that the patient is unable to use the MDI without suggesting solutions is premature. The nurse should first attempt an intervention to resolve the coordination issue, such as suggesting a spacer, as this is a common problem with a well-established solution.

Choice D rationale

While some respiratory medications can be given orally, switching the route of administration should not be the initial intervention for MDI coordination issues. Oral administration can have different pharmacokinetic profiles, systemic side effects, and may not provide the same targeted drug delivery to the airways as inhaled therapy.