What is a common nursing intervention for a patient prescribed methylprednisolone?

Enhance your pharmacology knowledge for the assessment. Prepare with quizzes featuring flashcards and multiple-choice questions with explanations and hints.

Monitoring blood glucose is a common nursing intervention for a patient prescribed methylprednisolone because this corticosteroid can cause an increase in blood glucose levels. Corticosteroids influence carbohydrate metabolism and may induce hyperglycemia, particularly in patients who have a history of diabetes or glucose intolerance.

When administering methylprednisolone, nurses must be vigilant in checking glucose levels to prevent complications such as hyperglycemic crises, especially if the patient has underlying conditions like diabetes. This helps ensure appropriate management and adjustment of the patient's diabetes medication if necessary during corticosteroid therapy.

The other options, while relevant to patient care, do not specifically address the most notable side effect associated with methylprednisolone use. Regular monitoring of cholesterol, iron supplementation, or administration of vitamin K does not directly correlate with the effects of methylprednisolone, making blood glucose monitoring the most pertinent intervention in this case.

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