Author Question: A patient is taking low-dose corticosteroids on a long-term basis for chronic obstructive pulmonary ... (Read 78 times)

oliviahorn72 · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

A patient is taking low-dose corticosteroids on a long-term basis for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The nurse assesses this patient knowing prolonged use of corticosteroids puts the patient at risk for what?

A) Adrenal storm
B) Adrenal atrophy
C) Stunted growth
D) Hypothalamic insufficiency

Question 2

The nurse is collecting a nursing history from a preoperative patient who is to receive local anesthesia. While taking the admission history, the patient says she is allergic to lidocaine. What is the nurse's priority action?

A) Notify the anesthesiologist.
B) Cancel the surgery.
C) Notify the surgeon.
D) Tell the perioperative nurse.

bd5255 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

B
Feedback:
Prolonged use of corticosteroids suppresses the normal hypothalamicpituita ry axis and leads to adrenal atrophy from lack of stimulation. The other options are all distracters for this question with no connection to long-term use of corticosteroids.

Answer to Question 2

A
Feedback:
The priority action is to inform the anesthesiologist who will administer the anesthetic because local anesthesia often involves use of lidocaine. It is not within the nurse's scope of practice to cancel surgery. Notifying the surgeon and the perioperative nurse is appropriate but is not the priority of care.