A child with growth hormone deficiency is receiving growth hormone. What result would the nurse interpret as indicating effectiveness of this therapy?

A. Rapid weight gain: While growth hormone can influence metabolism, rapid weight gain in a child with growth hormone deficiency may indicate fluid retention or overdosage rather than therapeutic effectiveness. Weight changes alone do not reflect linear growth improvement. B. Complaints of headaches: Headaches can be a side effect of growth hormone therapy, potentially related to increased intracranial pressure or fluid shifts. They are not an indicator of therapeutic efficacy and may require dose adjustment or further evaluation. C. Height increase of 4 inches: An increase in linear height reflects stimulation of bone growth at the epiphyseal growth plates, which is the primary goal of growth hormone therapy. Monitoring height velocity over months allows the nurse to assess the effectiveness of the treatment accurately. D. Growth plate closure: Closure of the epiphyseal growth plates signals the end of longitudinal bone growth. If growth plates close prematurely, it indicates that therapy can no longer increase height, representing a limitation rather than effectiveness of growth hormone treatment.