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Difficulty: HardHigh Risk Behaviors

A community health nurse is conducting a health screening for a 25-year-old client who discloses the regular use of injectable anabolic-androgenic steroids for competitive bodybuilding. Which statements by the nurse are appropriate to promote harm reduction and health maintenance? Select all that apply.

  1. It is important to have your blood pressure and lipid profile monitored regularly.Answer
  2. You should rotate your injection sites to prevent localized tissue damage and abscess formation.Answer
  3. C
    You must stop using these substances immediately to avoid permanent organ damage.
  4. You should use a fresh, sterile needle and syringe for every injection.Answer
  5. E
    Cleaning a previously used needle with isopropyl alcohol is acceptable if you run out of sterile supplies.
  6. F
    If you decide to stop using, you can abruptly discontinue the injections without experiencing physical withdrawal.

Answer

The correct statements emphasize using a fresh, sterile needle for every injection, rotating injection sites to prevent tissue damage, and regularly monitoring blood pressure and lipid profiles.
Harm reduction focuses on minimizing the negative physical and psychosocial impacts of high-risk behaviors, rather than demanding immediate abstinence. For a client using any injectable substance, utilizing sterile equipment and rotating injection sites are critical actions to prevent bloodborne infections and localized tissue necrosis. Furthermore, because anabolic steroids significantly increase the risk of hypertension and dyslipidemia, regular cardiovascular monitoring is an essential health maintenance strategy.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the client's specific high-risk behavior and the nursing goal.
The client is using injectable anabolic steroids. The primary nursing goal is to promote harm reduction and general health maintenance.
Establishing the goal provides a framework for evaluating which interventions are safe, therapeutic, and realistic.
2
Evaluate each nursing statement against the principles of harm reduction and therapeutic communication.
Statements advising sterile needle use and site rotation directly reduce physiological harm. The statement demanding immediate abstinence is non-therapeutic and blocks communication.
Harm reduction focuses on minimizing the negative impacts of behaviors without demanding immediate cessation, requiring a non-judgmental approach.
3
Analyze the physiological implications specific to anabolic steroid use.
Steroids cause cardiovascular risks (hypertension, dyslipidemia) validating the need for screening. They also suppress natural hormones, meaning abrupt cessation causes severe psychiatric and physical withdrawal.
Understanding the specific pathology of the substance ensures that education regarding monitoring and withdrawal is medically accurate.

Key Concept

Harm reduction strategies for injectable substance use
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Topics

High Risk Behaviors

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