What is a nursing priority when administering corticosteroids to a patient?

Monitoring for signs of infection is a nursing priority when administering corticosteroids because these medications can suppress the immune system. Corticosteroids, especially when used at high doses or over a prolonged period, can increase susceptibility to infections due to their immunosuppressive effects. Patients on corticosteroids may not exhibit typical signs of infection, making vigilant monitoring crucial.

In addition, when a patient's immune response is weakened, even minor infections can become serious concerns. Therefore, healthcare professionals need to be proactive in identifying symptoms such as fever, chills, or any unusual discomfort to ensure timely intervention.

Other considerations, such as sodium intake, fluid management, and exercise restrictions, are also important in the context of corticosteroid therapy; however, managing infection risk takes precedence due to its immediate impact on patient safety.