An adult patient presents to the emergency department with complaints of shortness of breath and increased work of breathing.

Assessment

The patient is alert and oriented times 3, skin is pink, warm and dry. BP 148/88, T98, P92. R 24, pulse oximetry 91% on room air. Assessment of the lung reveals expiratory wheezing throughout the lung fields.

The physician orders an albuterol nebulizer. What assessments should the nurse plan to complete after administering the albuterol?

(Select All that Apply.)

A) Theophylline:
Theophylline is a bronchodilator medication that is used for the long-term management of asthma, but it is not typically used as the initial treatment for acute asthma exacerbations. Its onset of action is slower compared to short-acting beta agonists like albuterol.

B) Montelukast:
Montelukast is a leukotriene receptor antagonist that is used for the long-term management of asthma, but it is not typically used as the initial treatment for acute asthma exacerbations. Its onset of action is slower compared to short-acting beta agonists like albuterol.

C) Albuterol.
The patient is presenting with symptoms consistent with an asthma exacerbation, including shortness of breath, increased work of breathing, expiratory wheezing, and a history of asthma. Albuterol is a short-acting beta agonist bronchodilator commonly used as the first-line treatment for acute asthma exacerbations. It acts quickly to relax bronchial smooth muscles, relieve bronchoconstriction, and improve airflow, which can help alleviate the patient's symptoms of shortness of breath and wheezing.

D) Salmeterol:
Salmeterol is a long-acting beta agonist bronchodilator that is used for the maintenance treatment of asthma, but it is not typically used as the initial treatment for acute asthma exacerbations. Its onset of action is slower compared to short-acting beta agonists like albuterol, and it is not recommended for rapid relief of acute symptoms.

A) H2-receptor blockers:
H2-receptor blockers, such as ranitidine and famotidine, are used to reduce the production of stomach acid. While they can provide symptomatic relief for ulcers by reducing acid secretion, they do not directly treat the underlying cause of the ulcer, which is the H. pylori infection.

B) Antacids:
Antacids are medications that neutralize stomach acid and can provide temporary relief from ulcer symptoms such as pain and discomfort. However, they do not eradicate the H. pylori bacteria or address the root cause of the ulcer. Antacids only provide symptomatic relief rather than treating the infection.

C) Proton-pump inhibitors:
Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as omeprazole and pantoprazole, are potent acid-suppressing medications that are commonly used to treat ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). While they can help in ulcer healing by reducing acid secretion and providing symptomatic relief, they are not effective in eradicating H. pylori infection. PPIs are often used in combination with antibiotics for H. pylori eradication therapy, but they are not the primary treatment on their own.

D) Antibiotics.
H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori) is a bacteria that commonly infects the stomach lining and is a major cause of gastric and duodenal ulcers. Antibiotics are the primary treatment for H. pylori infection. The antibiotics kill the bacteria, allowing the ulcer to heal. Common antibiotics used to treat H. pylori include amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, and tetracycline.