Using a stepwise approach to managing asthma, a nurse teaches a patient who is at step 1 that their albuterol MDI (Proventil) is used:

Choice A reason: Nighttime awakenings more than twice weekly indicate step 2, requiring maintenance therapy. Step 1 uses albuterol as needed, so this is incorrect. Choice B reason: Twice-daily glucocorticoids are for step 2 or higher, not step 1, where albuterol is used as needed. This is incorrect for step 1 management. Choice C reason: LABAs are used in step 3 or higher, not step 1, where albuterol alone is sufficient as needed. This is incorrect for the asthma step. Choice D reason: At step 1, albuterol is used as a rescue inhaler for acute asthma symptoms. This is the standard approach, making it the correct choice.