¡Asthma and Stepwise Management

¡NURS 6521: Advanced Pharmacology

¡Asthma

¡Asthma is described as a condition wherein the like there and swell, and an abundance of mucus production is seen.

¡It characterizes hyper response and widening of the airway as a result of allergic reactions contributing to diffuse irritation of the airway.

¡The inflammation is triggered by a number of activating factors culminating in vascular constriction which is partly or entirely irreversible.

¡Breathlessness, chest tightness or discomfort, difficulty sleeping attributable to shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing are some physical symptoms of asthma.

¡ Long-term Control Treatment Options

¡Asthma drugs and dosage are defined by the condition of the person, symptoms, asthma intensity, and side effects of the medicine.

¡Long-term monitoring drugs are treatments that are routinely to be used to help regulate severe illness and avoid attacks.

¡Leukotriene inhibitors, corticosteroids (ICS), long-acting beta-agonists (LABA) and theophylline are some long-term treatment choices.

¡The variation of aspirin containing both a cortisone and LABA is another alternative(OBG, 2019).

¡Quick Relief Treatment Options

¡For immediate , short-term symptomatic relief, quick-relief medicines are taken as needed and often used to diagnose and reduce an asthma attack.

¡These treatments available involve short-acting beta-agonists (SABA) for severe asthma attacks, such as Albuterol, Atrovent, intravenous and oral (IV) corticosteroids.

¡Short-acting beta agonists (SABA) are neurotransmitters ingested that offer rapid relief and act within minutes to help relieve asthma attack symptoms.

¡Atrovent is an inhalation and nebulizer employees who are satisfied maintenance procedure by blocking the function of norepinephrine in the vascular smooth muscle at the autonomic locations(Rosenthal & Burchum, 2017).

¡ Stepwise Approach to Asthma

¡It is a six-step method for helping to control drug therapies depending on the severity and risk identification of the patient.

¡Phase 1 in therapy will consist of a SABA prn as the patient only has sporadic symptoms, this is the only medication that is required.

¡Two treatment choice improvements are provided between steps 3 and 4: either the dosage of ICS is raised, LABA is introduced, or both for step 4.

¡The ICS dose will increase more during steps 5 and 6, and omalizumab is considered for allergy patients. Chronic oral nsaids are also regarded during phase 6, typically medication is the option medicine(Murray & O’Neill, 2018).

¡Stepwise Management assists Health Care Providers

¡The common issue of uncontrolled asthma must be consistently educated and detected, assessed, and treated by an advanced practise nurse.

¡The stepwise approach offers guidelines that can assist the provider of healthcare in assessing the proper treatment for asthma.

¡For patients and families, with the overall aim of minimising morbidity, enhancing quality of life, increasing efficiency, and improving outcomes, the stepwise strategy helps to gain greater control of asthma attacks.

¡In the treatment plan, management of asthma should be a goal. The step-by – step approach will allow healthcare professionals to address patient problems more effectively.

¡References

¡Murray, B., & O’Neill, M. (2018). Supporting self-management of asthma through patient education. British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing), 27(7), 396-401. doi:10.12968/bjon.2018.27.7.396

¡OBG. (2019). Asthma: The Stepwise Approach to Treatment. Retrieved from OBG: https://www.obgproject.com/2019/08/28/asthma-the-stepwise-approach-to-treatment/

¡Rosenthal, L., & Burchum, J. (2017). Lehne’s Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Providers – E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Week 3: Respiratory System

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are significant public health burdens. Currently, more than 25 million people in the United States have asthma (HealthyPeople.gov, 2019). As an advanced practice nurse, you will likely encounter patients who will present with respiratory disorders, including asthma or COPD. Understanding specific treatment protocols as well as the types of pharmacotherapeutics used to treat respiratory disorders is important to ensure the effective and safe delivery of advanced nursing practice.

This week, you will evaluate drug therapy plans for patients who present with asthma and analyze the stepwise approach to asthma treatment and management from a patient in your professional practice.

Reference: HealthyPeople.gov. (2019). Respiratory diseases. Retrieved from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/respiratory-diseases

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Evaluate drug therapy plans for asthma
• Assess the impact of asthma treatments on patients
• Analyze the stepwise approach to asthma treatment and management

Learning Resources

Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)

Optional Resources (click to expand/reduce)

Assignment: Asthma and Stepwise Management

Asthma is a respiratory disorder that affects children and adults. Advanced practice nurses often provide treatment to patients with these disorders. Sometimes patients require immediate treatment, making it essential that you recognize and distinguish minor asthma symptoms from serious, life-threatening ones. Since symptoms and attacks are often induced by a trigger, advanced practice nurses must also help patients identify their triggers and recommend appropriate management options. Like many other disorders, there are various approaches to treating and managing care for asthmatic patients depending on individual patient factors.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

One method that supports the clinical decision making of drug therapy plans for asthmatic patients is the stepwise approach, which you explore in this Assignment.

To Prepare

• Reflect on drugs used to treat asthmatic patients, including long-term control and quick relief treatment options for patients. Think about the impact these drugs might have on patients, including adults and children.
• Consider how you might apply the stepwise approach to address the health needs of a patient in your practice.
• Reflect on how stepwise management assists health care providers and patients in gaining and maintaining control of the disease.

By Day 7 of Week 3

Create a 5- to 6-slide PowerPoint presentation that can be used in a staff development meeting on presenting different approaches for implementing the stepwise approach for asthma treatment. Be sure to address the following:

• Describe long-term control and quick relief treatment options for the asthma patient from your practice as well as the impact these drugs might have on your patient.
• Explain the stepwise approach to asthma treatment and management for your patient.
• Explain how stepwise management assists health care providers and patients in gaining and maintaining control of the disease. Be specific.

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