HNN329 - The Nurses Role In Asthma Management_default

Chapter 1: Introduction to Asthma Management

• Overview of Nurses' Roles in Asthma Management

  • Nurses participate in multidisciplinary teams in primary care settings.

  • Roles include assessing patients and offering asthma education to improve control.

• Diagnosis of Asthma

  • Involves history, physical examination, ruling out other diagnoses, and spirometry to document airflow limitation.

  • Identification of asthma triggers is key (e.g., cigarette smoke, allergies, viral infections).

• Assessing Asthma Control

  • Many Australians live with poorly controlled asthma; frequent reliever use (e.g., Ventolin) is often mistaken for normal.

  • Nurses should engage patients to clarify asthma symptom control and prevention of exacerbations.

  • Use an evidence-based checklist for assessing control:

    • Do you wake at night with symptoms?

    • Do you have symptoms in the morning?

    • How soon do you need your reliever medication after waking?

    • How often do you need your reliever during the day?

    • Are your daily activities or exercise restricted by asthma?

    • Days off work or school due to asthma in the past couple of weeks?

Chapter 2: Written Asthma Action Plan

• Importance of Asthma Action Plans

  • Action plans should outline key steps during flare-ups, emergency contacts, and therapy.

  • Emphasize the importance of seeing healthcare professionals if symptoms persist.

• Proper Inhaler Use

  • Correct inhaler technique is crucial; many patients lack proper instruction.

  • Nurses should observe patients using their inhalers and correct misconceptions.

  • Resources available for demonstrations of proper inhaler use.

• Reviewing the Asthma Action Plan

  • Nurses should clarify the action plan with patients and families to ensure understanding during emergencies.

  • Role in community settings: administer medications per action plans and assess treatment responses.

Chapter 3: Signs of Deteriorating Asthma Control

• Recognizing Asthma Attacks

  • Typical signs: increased wheezing, cough, sudden chest tightness, and shortness of breath.

  • Gradual worsening of symptoms indicated by increased nighttime awakenings or frequent reliever use.

• Asthma Emergencies

  • Define an asthma emergency: sudden severe symptoms, difficulty speaking, or cyanosis (blue lips/fingers).

  • Immediate action: call an ambulance if relief is not achieved with the inhaler.

• Asthma First Aid Steps

  1. Sit the person upright and keep them calm.

  2. Administer four puffs of reliever medication (use a spacer if available).

  3. Wait four minutes and monitor the individual closely.

  4. If still not improving, call an ambulance and repeat salbutamol dosages (four puffs every four minutes).

Chapter 4: Conclusion

• Continuous Monitoring

  • After four minutes, if the person is responding, reassure them while monitoring until normal breathing resumes.

  • If improvement occurs, follow up with a healthcare provider for check-up.

• Asthma First Aid Plans for Different Ages

  • Review specific first aid plans for adults and children to account for differences in administration methods (e.g., spacer with or without a mask).

• Nurses' Crucial Role in Acute Care

  • Nurses support emergency treatment, assess responses, and provide respiratory care in acute settings (ED, medical wards, ICU).

  • Further details on managing acute asthma exacerbations will follow.