Question

A student nurse is educating a client on the newly prescribed medication for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Which statement made by the student nurse is incorrect?

1) An enzyme replacement will be administered daily by mouth.
2) An antibiotic will be given to prevent upper respiratory infections.
3) Steroids are given to help with breathing and to increase exercise tolerance.
4) You will be given a short-acting metered-dose inhaler to open your airways.

Answer 1

The incorrect statement made by the student nurse regarding COPD treatment is the suggestion of administering an enzyme replacement by mouth. COPD typically involves inhalers, steroids, and sometimes antibiotics, but not enzyme replacements.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement made by the student nurse that is incorrect when educating a client on newly prescribed medication for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is: "An enzyme replacement will be administered daily by mouth." This statement does not accurately pertain to the treatment of COPD. COPD treatments typically include inhalers, such as short-acting bronchodilators to open the airways, steroids to reduce inflammation and improve breathing, and sometimes antibiotics to prevent or treat respiratory infections. However, enzyme replacements are not a standard treatment for COPD; they are more commonly associated with conditions like cystic fibrosis. In contrast, therapies for COPD are focused on managing symptoms, as no cure exists for the disease currently.

Antibiotics may be given to a COPD patient to prevent upper respiratory infections, especially during exacerbations. Steroids can be prescribed to help with breathing issues and to increase exercise tolerance. Lastly, a short-acting metered-dose inhaler may be used for immediate relief of symptoms when they occur.