Which action by the nurse while administering human growth hormone ensures effective therapy?

• A. Administration at nighttime
• B. Administration via oral route
• C. Administration along with meals
• D. Administration by metered spray

Answer: (A)

The key idea is timing therapy to the body's normal hormone pattern. Growth hormone is released in pulses, with a major surge during sleep. Administering the dose at night, by subcutaneous injection, takes advantage of this nocturnal peak and aligns the treatment with the body’s natural rhythm, maximizing its growth-promoting effects.

Oral administration isn’t effective for growth hormone because a peptide would be broken down in the digestive tract, so it wouldn’t reach the bloodstream in active form. A metered nasal spray isn’t a standard delivery for growth hormone, so it wouldn’t provide the same systemic exposure. Administering with meals doesn’t impact effectiveness if given by injection, but it doesn’t exploit the nighttime peak.