A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching to a client who has bronchitis, about a prescription for albuterol. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

Bronchitis involves inflammation of the bronchial tubes, often leading to airway narrowing, mucus production, and breathing difficulty. Medications such as bronchodilators are commonly prescribed to relieve bronchospasm and improve airflow. Albuterol is a short-acting beta2 agonist used to rapidly relax airway smooth muscles. Patient education focuses on its mechanism of action, proper use, and expected effects. Rationale: A. “You can expect to be drowsy after taking this medication.” Albuterol typically causes stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system rather than sedation. Common effects include nervousness, tremors, and tachycardia. Drowsiness is not an expected or therapeutic effect of this medication. B. “The medication will help open up your airways so you can breathe easier.” This correctly describes the action of albuterol. It stimulates beta2-adrenergic receptors in bronchial smooth muscle, leading to bronchodilation. This reduces airway resistance and improves airflow, making breathing easier for clients with bronchitis or other obstructive airway conditions. C. “The medication will help thin the mucus your airways produce.” Albuterol does not act as a mucolytic. It does not change the consistency of secretions but instead relaxes bronchial smooth muscle. Medications like expectorants or hydration are used to assist mucus clearance. D. “You must wait 10 seconds between each inhalation.” Proper inhaler technique generally requires waiting about 1 minute between puffs to allow adequate drug deposition and absorption. The statement does not reflect correct inhalation spacing guidelines and may indicate misunderstanding of proper inhaler use.