What do steroids do nursing?

Understanding Steroids in Nursing
Steroids, particularly corticosteroids, play a significant role in nursing and patient care. These medications are synthetic versions of hormones produced by the adrenal glands, primarily cortisol. They are widely used to manage various medical conditions due to their powerful anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties.
Mechanism of Action
Corticosteroids function by mimicking the effects of cortisol, a hormone that regulates numerous bodily functions, including the immune response and inflammation. When administered, these steroids inhibit the production of substances that trigger inflammation, effectively reducing swelling, redness, and pain. This mechanism makes them invaluable in treating conditions such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Clinical Applications
In nursing practice, corticosteroids are frequently encountered. They are prescribed for a range of conditions, from acute allergic reactions to chronic diseases like lupus and multiple sclerosis. Inhaled steroids, for instance, are commonly used in managing asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), providing targeted relief directly to the lungs.
Nursing Considerations
Nurses must be well-versed in the administration and management of steroid therapies. Key considerations include monitoring for side effects, which can range from mild to severe. Common side effects include weight gain, increased blood sugar levels, and susceptibility to infections due to the immunosuppressive effects of these drugs.
Moreover, nurses should educate patients about the importance of adhering to prescribed dosages and schedules. Abruptly stopping corticosteroids can lead to withdrawal symptoms and adrenal insufficiency, a potentially life-threatening condition.
Side Effects and Management
The side effects of corticosteroids can be significant, particularly with long-term use. Patients may experience mood swings, insomnia, and gastrointestinal issues. Nurses play a crucial role in monitoring these effects and providing supportive care, which may include dietary adjustments to manage weight gain or medications to protect the stomach lining.
Conclusion
In summary, steroids, particularly corticosteroids, are essential in nursing for their ability to combat inflammation and manage various health conditions. Understanding their mechanism of action, clinical applications, and the necessary nursing considerations is vital for ensuring patient safety and effective treatment outcomes. As healthcare professionals, nurses must remain vigilant in monitoring patients and educating them about the implications of steroid therapy, ensuring a holistic approach to care.

What is the purpose of giving steroids?

When prescribed in certain doses, corticosteroids help reduce inflammation. This can ease symptoms of inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis, asthma and skin rashes. Corticosteroids also suppress the immune system. This can help control conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues.

What should I monitor when giving steroids?

Parameters to be monitored in primary care include weight, blood pressure, triglycerides, glucose and urea and electrolytes.

What is the role of steroids in all?

Steroids are often given with chemotherapy to help destroy leukaemia cells or to reduce allergic reactions to some chemotherapy drugs. The most commonly used steroids for ALL include prednisolone and dexamethasone. Steroids are usually given as tablets.

What is the main function of steroids?

Steroids reduce redness and swelling (inflammation). This can help with inflammatory conditions such as asthma and eczema. Steroids also reduce the activity of the immune system, which is the body’s natural defence against illness and infection.

When nursing a patient on steroids, the nurse should?

Patients taking corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone, hydrocortisone) are at increased risk of infection. Monitor for signs of infection, and educate patients taking these medications to avoid crowded areas and perform frequent hand hygiene.

How do steroids work in nursing?

Corticosteroids suppress the inflammatory mediators and the immune system. They affect the body’s defense mechanism, leading to an increased risk of infection. Nurses must take extra care of the patients on corticosteroids so that any co-infection does not occur.

What do steroids do for babies?

Of note, steroids are sometimes used to treat low blood pressure, electrolyte problems, and low blood sugars, and some babies receive this medication for problems unrelated to BPD.

What do steroids do in pregnancy?

Corticosteroids are anti-inflammation medicines that help the baby’s lungs mature before being born. They are usually given to women at risk of early labour, typically as two injections, though they can also be given before planned preterm birth and in some cases a repeat course can be given.

How do steroids reduce inflammation?

In controlling inflammation, the major effect of corticosteroids is to inhibit the synthesis of multiple inflammatory proteins through suppression of the genes that encode them.

What do steroids play a role in management of?

Because of these effects, corticosteroids play a crucial part in treating a large number of inflammatory conditions and autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, allergic conditions, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, multiple sclerosis, hematological cancers, …