Nurse's Role in the Prevention of Asthma

Nurses include nurse practitioners and registered nurses in doctors' offices, hospitals and school nurses, all of whom have an important role in preventing and managing asthma. A chronic and potentially debilitating disease, asthma results from inflammation of the airways in the lungs. Adequate treatment prevents symptoms, maintains activity level and lung function, and avoids emergency visits to the hospital. Nurses educate patients, assure accurate assessment of the disease, and help patients attain the skills necessary to manage asthma as part of their daily routines.

Assessment: the Key to Prevention

• Nurses often see and evaluate the patient before the doctor does. With asthma, the nurse should pay special attention to the patient's experience of symptoms: the frequency and severity and any pattern in occurrence. For instance, asthma often strikes at night or after exposure to exercise, allergens and smoke.

  The severity of asthma can be measured by forced expiratory volume (FEV) using a spirometer. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in its publication, "Nurses: Partners in Asthma Care," points out that nurses obtain the most accurate FEV readings through good instruction and coaching. By taking FEV readings at subsequent visits, nurses also evaluate how well treatment prevents symptoms.

Prevention Strategies

• In people with asthma, treating current episodes and preventing future ones involve two important strategies that nurses implement. First, they speak with patients to identify and help them avoid asthma triggers. Eliminating tobacco smoke in the home, dealing with allergens such as cat dander, and anticipating the effect of exercise all can prevent symptoms. Secondly, nurses educate the patient about the different kinds of medications and how to use each, as well as special equipment, including nebulizers and inhalers. Preventing symptoms is the major goal of treatment.

Coordination of Care

• Asthma symptoms often cause patients to involve several different health professionals for their condition, including allergists, respiratory specialists, primary care physicians, and emergency room professionals. The NHLBI points out that nurses can and should build partnerships with patients' families and other involved health professionals, so that patients receive adequate support, consistent messages and coordinated care. Otherwise, confusion and conflicting information can result in inadequate treatment.

Eliminating Barriers to Treatment

• The NHLBI states that through effective patient interaction nurses can detect and discuss barriers to treatment and offer patient strategies to overcome them. They can help patients simplify their regimens, make taking daily medications part of their routines, enlist the help of family members, address cultural issues and reinforce basics of treatment. Finances may be in important barrier. Nurses can help patients and their families interact with insurance companies to determine coverage and find affordable and effective ways to treat the disease.

School Nurses

• The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program states in a publication for school nurses that nurses "provide appropriate asthma education and health behavior intervention to students, parents and school personnel when signs and symptoms of uncontrolled asthma and other areas of concern are identified." School nurses can assist in assuring the students take the medication appropriately when needed during school and alerting the family and primary care provider if asthma treatment needs adjustment.