A nurse is reinforcing teaching about home safety precautions with the parents of a 3-month- old infant.

Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

Prednisone can cause blood glucose levels to increase.

The nurse should explain to the client that the reason for checking his blood glucose level is because prednisone, a medication he is receiving, can cause an increase in blood glucose levels. Prednisone is a corticosteroid medication that is commonly used in the treatment of various conditions, including COPD. It has the potential to raise blood glucose levels by promoting gluconeogenesis (the production of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources) and decreasing insulin sensitivity. Monitoring blood glucose levels is important to assess and manage any potential hyperglycaemia or changes in the client's blood sugar levels while on prednisone.

Older adults are not at increased risk for developing type 1 diabetes mellitus in (option A) is incorrect. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that typically occurs in childhood or adolescence, and it is characterized by the destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

Albuterol treatments, which are used to relieve bronchospasms in clients with COPD, are not known to cause blood glucose levels to decrease in (option C) is incorrect. Albuterol is a beta-2 adrenergic agonist that primarily acts on the respiratory system and does not have a direct effect on blood glucose levels.

Having COPD does not directly cause blood glucose levels to fluctuate in (option D) is incorrect. While there can be various factors that may indirectly affect blood glucose levels in individuals with COPD (e.g., medications, stress, comorbidities), the primary reason for monitoring blood glucose in this case is the use of prednisone.

In summary, the nurse should explain to the client that the blood glucose levels are being checked because prednisone, a medication he is taking for his COPD, can cause an increase in blood glucose levels. This allows for appropriate monitoring and management of any potential hyperglycemia associated with the use of prednisone.

Explanation

A. Write the information at an 8 th grade reading level

Writing the information at an 8th-grade reading level ensures that it is accessible and understandable to a wide range of individuals in the community. Hypertension is a common health condition, and it is important to provide information in a clear and concise manner that can be easily comprehended by the target audience.

Explaining medical terminology using basic, one-syllable in words in (option B) is not recommendable because it may oversimplify the information and potentially undermine the importance of accuracy and precision in healthcare communication.

Using a 12-point font size in (option C) is not recommendable because it is a general guideline for readability, but it is not the most critical aspect when developing a brochure. The readability of the content itself is more important than the specific font size.

D. Presenting information from complex to simple in (option D) is not recommendable because it is not the most effective approach when developing a brochure about hypertension. It is more beneficial to present information in a simple and straightforward manner from the beginning to enhance understanding and engagement.

Therefore, the nurse should write the information at an 8th-grade reading level (option A) to ensure that it is easily accessible and comprehensible for the target audience.