A nurse is caring for a pediatric client who is receiving pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. Which nursing action measures the effectiveness of the therapy?

Choice A rationale:

Expiratory wheezing is characteristic of asthma exacerbation. It indicates airway constriction and narrowing, leading to difficulty in exhaling and resulting in a high-pitched sound during expiration.

Choice B rationale:

Inspiratory crackle is not typically associated with asthma. Crackles are often heard in conditions involving fluid-filled airways, such as pneumonia.

Choice C rationale:

Expiratory grunting is not a common finding in asthma. Grunting sounds may be present in infants with respiratory distress, indicating the difficulty they experience while exhaling.

Choice D rationale:

Inspiratory stridor is not a usual manifestation of asthma. Stridor is more commonly related to upper airway obstruction, often seen in croup or epiglottitis.

Choice A rationale:

Monitoring the stool consistency is a crucial nursing action to assess the effectiveness of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. Patients with pancreatic insufficiency, such as those with cystic fibrosis, may have difficulty digesting fats properly. Improved stool consistency, specifically a reduction in greasy and foul-smelling stools, indicates that the pancreatic enzymes are aiding in fat digestion.

Choice B rationale:

Pupillary reflex response assessment is unrelated to pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. It is more commonly performed to assess neurological status or the effects of medications affecting the autonomic nervous system.

Choice C rationale:

Listening to breath sounds is important for assessing respiratory status, but it does not directly reflect the effectiveness of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy.

Choice D rationale:

Auscultating the apical pulse rate is a general assessment of cardiovascular function and does not provide information about the effectiveness of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy.