Exemplar 15.B - Asthma

The nurse is planning care for a young adolescent client diagnosed with asthma. Which evidence-based age-appropriate interventions will the nurse include in the plan of care? Select all that apply. A) Referring to a peer-led support group B) Teaching the parents how to administer maintenance medication prior to teaching the client C) Assessing peer support when planning care D) Collaborating with teachers for support in the school setting E) Telling the client to avoid medication while at school

A) Referring to a peer-led support group C) Assessing peer support when planning care D) Collaborating with teachers for support in the school setting Age-appropriate, evidence-based interventions for a young adolescent client diagnosed with asthma include referral to a peer-led support group, assessing peer support of the client, and collaborating with teachers to ensure the client has the necessary support in the school setting. While it is appropriate to include the parents in the educational process, the client should be taught how to administer medications prior to teaching the parents. Avoiding medication administration while in school could lead to an acute asthma attack.

The nurse working on a pediatric unit is caring for a client newly diagnosed with asthma. Which assessment data indicate impending respiratory failure and the need for immediate intervention? Select all that apply. A) Shallow respirations B) Slightly diminished breath sounds C) Decreased wheezing D) Increased crackles E) Increased respiratory rate

A) Shallow respirations C) Decreased wheezing Respiratory status can change rapidly during an acute asthma attack. Slowed, shallow respirations with significantly diminished breath sounds and decreased wheezing may indicate exhaustion and impending respiratory failure. Immediate intervention is necessary. Increased crackles are usually associated with heart failure and are not an indication of respiratory failure. An increased respiratory rate indicates respiratory compromise, but not respiratory failure.

Which of the following triggers can stimulate an acute asthma attack? Select all that apply. A) Stress B) Animal dander C) Loud noises D) Exercise E) Bright lights

A) Stress B) Animal dander D) Exercise Stress, exercise, and animal dander are all known triggers of asthma. Loud noises may trigger hearing loss or headaches, but they will not trigger asthma. Bright lights are also not known to trigger asthma.

The nurse is instructing a client who is prescribed ipratropium bromide (Atrovent) for asthma. Which should be included in this client's teaching? Select all that apply. A) Take no more than the prescribed number of doses each day. B) Rinse the mouth after taking this medication. C) Take on an empty stomach. D) Take with meals or a full glass of water. E) Use hard candy or drink extra fluids to help with a dry mouth.

A) Take no more than the prescribed number of doses each day. E) Use hard candy or drink extra fluids to help with a dry mouth. Appropriate teaching for a client prescribed ipratropium bromide (Atrovent) includes only taking the prescribed number of doses each day to prevent a drug overdose and the use of hard candy or extra fluids to decrease dry mouth. The mouth does not need to be rinsed after taking this medication. This medication does not need to be taken with meals or a full glass of water, or on an empty stomach.

The nurse is collecting a health history for a 12-month-old child. The child lives in a home where both parents smoke, and the child has had respiratory syncytial virus twice since birth. The child's older sister was recently diagnosed with asthma. The nurse understands that this child's risk of developing asthma later in life is A) above average. B) average. C) below average. D) well below average.

A) above average. Risk factors for asthma include exposure to air pollution, including secondary smoke from cigarettes, and early exposure to respiratory syncytial virus. Genetic factors may also play a role in asthma development. Because of the presence of these risk factors, this child has an above average risk of developing asthma later in life.

The nurse instructs a client with asthma on bronchodilator therapy. Which statement indicates client understanding of how the drug works? A) "The medication widens the airways by causing airway muscle contraction." B) "The medication widens the airways by causing airway muscle relaxation." C) "The medication widens the airways by decreasing histamine production." D) "The medication widens the airways by decreasing mucus production."

B) "The medication widens the airways by causing airway muscle relaxation." Bronchodilators stimulate bronchiolar smooth muscle relaxation, not contraction. Smooth muscle relaxation increases the diameter of the airway lumen to enhance airflow. Bronchodilators do not decrease the production of mucus or the production of histamine.

A nurse is teaching environmental control to the parents of a child with asthma. Which statement by the parents indicates effective teaching? A) "We'll be sure to use the fireplace often to keep the house warm in the winter." B) "We will replace the carpet in our child's bedroom with tile." C) "We'll keep the plants in our child's room dusted." D) "We're glad the dog can continue to sleep in our child's room."

B) "We will replace the carpet in our child's bedroom with tile." Control of dust in the child's bedroom is an important aspect of environmental control for asthma management, and replacing the carpeting in the child's bedroom with tile flooring will reduce dust. When possible, pets and plants should not be kept in the home. Smoke from fireplaces should be eliminated.

The nurse is caring for a 72-year-old client who has presented to the emergency department for the third time in 8 months with acute asthma exacerbations. The client states that he has trouble holding his inhaler, and sometimes he forgets to take his medication. He is also worried because he thinks his new drugs are adversely interacting with medications for his other conditions. What nursing diagnosis is appropriate for this client? A) Deficient Knowledge B) Ineffective Health Management C) Risk for Aspiration D) Ineffective Coping

B) Ineffective Health Management Based on his repeated trips to the emergency department, his reported trouble holding his inhaler, and his inconsistency with taking his medications, an appropriate nursing diagnosis for this client is Ineffective Health Management. The client appears to have adequate knowledge about how to cope with his diseases; he is just unable to follow through with managing his medications at all times. Therefore, Deficient Knowledge and Ineffective Coping are not appropriate diagnoses based on this information. Not enough information is provided to determine if the client is at risk for aspiration.

The pathophysiologic stimulus that initiates asthma is A) bronchoconstriction. B) inflammation in the airways. C) airway edema. D) mucus secretion.

B) inflammation in the airways. In asthma, the airways are in a persistent state of inflammation. This inflammation can lead to bronchoconstriction, airway edema, and increased mucus secretion. Therefore, inflammation is the primary stimulus that initiates asthma.

A client asks why asthma medication is needed even though the client's last attack was several months ago. Which response by the nurse is appropriate? A) "The medication needs to be taken or your lungs will be severely damaged and we will not be able to prevent an acute attack." B) "The medication needs to be taken indefinitely according to your doctor, so you should discuss this with him." C) "The medication is still needed to decrease inflammation in your airways and help prevent an attack." D) "The medication needs to be taken for at least a year; then, if you have not had an acute attack, you can stop it."

C) "The medication is still needed to decrease inflammation in your airways and help prevent an attack." Effective treatment of asthma includes long-term treatment to prevent attacks and decrease inflammation, as well as short-term treatment when an attack occurs. Long-term treatment of asthma continues indefinitely, not for just 1 year. Telling a client that lungs will be severely damaged is nontherapeutic; the inability to prevent an acute attack in this client is not true. The nurse is able to answer the client's question; it does not need to be referred to the physician.

The nurse is reviewing discharge instructions with a client who is newly diagnosed with asthma. Which client statement indicates a need for further teaching? A) "I need to rinse my mouth after every use of my inhaler." B) "I need to take my Singulair at least 1 hour before I eat." C) "When inhaling two different medications, I should use the bronchodilator last." D) "Because I am on theophylline, I will need to have therapeutic blood levels drawn."

C) "When inhaling two different medications, I should use the bronchodilator last." When using two different medications taken by inhalation, the bronchodilator should always be used first. This helps open the airways to enhance the effectiveness of the second medication. The other statements are accurate and require no further education.

The nurse is providing care to a client admitted after experiencing an acute asthma attack. Which assessment findings should the nurse identify as signs that the client has progressed to respiratory failure? Select all that apply. A) Retractions and fatigue B) Tachycardia and tachypnea C) Inaudible breath sounds D) Diffuse wheezing and the use of accessory muscles when inhaling E) Reduced wheezing and an ineffective cough

C) Inaudible breath sounds E) Reduced wheezing and an ineffective cough Inaudible breath sounds, reduced wheezing, and ineffective cough indicate that the client is progressing to respiratory failure, and immediate interventions are necessary. During an asthma attack, tachycardia and tachypnea are common. They are early symptoms of the disease process and can be addressed without urgency. Diffuse wheezing, the use of accessory muscles when inhaling, retractions, and fatigue indicate a progression of the severity of the symptoms and may require nursing intervention, but they do not indicate respiratory failure.

A client diagnosed with asthma has a respiratory rate of 28 at rest with audible wheezes upon inspiration. Based on this data, which nursing diagnosis is the most appropriate? A) Ineffective Airway Clearance B) Impaired Tissue Perfusion C) Ineffective Breathing Pattern D) Activity Intolerance

C) Ineffective Breathing Pattern The client is experiencing an increased respiratory rate and is wheezing, which is an ineffective breathing pattern. Not enough information is provided to determine whether the client has ineffective airway clearance, activity intolerance, or impaired tissue perfusion.

Friends of a client hospitalized with asthma would like to bring the client a gift. Which gift should the nurse recommend for this client? A) A basket of flowers B) A stuffed animal C) Fruit and candy D) A book

D) A book A client with asthma must not be exposed to items that can exacerbate their disease process. Specific allergens, chemicals, and foods must be avoided. Flowers, food, and items that may contain dust, such as a stuffed animal, should be avoided. Objects void of irritants, such as a book, would be an appropriate gift.

The nurse is providing care to a client with asthma. When developing the client's plan of care, which intervention would be most appropriate to promote effective gas exchange? A) Provide adequate rest periods B) Reduce excessive stimuli C) Assist with activities of daily living D) Place in Fowler position

D) Place in Fowler position Placing in Fowler position facilitates breathing and lung expansion, promoting airway clearance. Providing adequate rest periods prevents fatigue and reduces oxygen demands. Reducing excessive stimuli promotes rest. Assisting with activities of daily living conserves energy and reduces oxygen demands.