Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

A person prescribed three daily medications for asthma is most likely to have which category of asthma?

1. Mild intermittent.

2. Severe persistent.

3. Moderate persistent.

4. Mild persistent.

The correct answer is: Severe persistent.

A person prescribed three daily medications for asthma is most likely categorized under severe persistent asthma. This designation reflects the frequency and severity of symptoms associated with the condition. Patients with severe persistent asthma typically experience symptoms throughout the day and often have nighttime awakenings more than once a week. They may require high doses of medications to manage their symptoms effectively, and the need for multiple daily medications indicates that their asthma is not well-controlled with less intensive treatment options. Mild intermittent asthma generally involves symptoms that occur less than twice a week and may not require daily medication. Mild persistent asthma typically requires low-dose inhaled corticosteroids or other controller medications but does not necessitate the complexity of three daily medications. Moderate persistent asthma would usually involve some daily medication, but not to the extent required for severe persistent asthma. Therefore, the requirement for multiple medications is a clear indicator that the individual is experiencing severe persistent asthma, reflecting the more challenging management and control necessary for that level of the disease.