Nursing care of patients on corticosteroid pulse therapy

Introduction: Intravenous pulse therapy with corticosteroidinvolves administration of high doses (starting from 1 g /day), givenon three or more consecutive days. Because of possible adverseeffects, it is recommended that patients stay at hospital duringadministration of pulse therapy. Monitoring of vital signs can earlyidentify these adverse effects and allow efficient interventionassuring patient’s safety. Uniform nursing care is necessaryconsidering the responsibility of the nursing team regarding drugadministration and follow-up of patients. Objective: To identifythe most important nursing care issues to inpatients undergoingcorticosteroid pulse therapy. Methods: Bibliographic searchin databases, books, articles in endocrinology, pharmacy andnursing journals; discussions with experts in neurology, transplantand pharmacy. Results: Side effects during corticosteroid pulsetherapy may occur as soon as infusion starts. An instrument wasdesigned to monitor such effects and systematize nursing care.Conclusions: Systematized nursing care during corticosteroidpulse therapy leads to early identification of possible complicationsand intervention to minimize them.