Question

1. List clinical findings you may see when assessing a pt with acute asthma exacerbation

2. What are common side effects of aminophylline? What are nursing considerations to consider

3. What factors could trigger asthma

4.How is a Peak Flowmeter used?

5. How does one use a Metered Dose inhaler properly

6.  Impaired gas exchange related to…. (remember this should be the pathophysiology of which contributes to the diagnosis) in this case … narrowing of the bronchial lumen by spasm, edema and secretions. What goal would you have for this pt and what nursing interventions would you implement?

7. what other nursing diagnosis might apply to a pt hospitalized for asthma

8. what are important elements to include in a teaching plan for self management of asth

Answer 1

Question 1

Clinical features are:- fever, cough, dyspnea, chest pain with past history of similar episodes.Episodes will show seasonal variation. Clinical findings are increased respiratory rate, increased body temperature, use of accessory respiratory muscles, indrawing of suprasternal and supraclavicular notch,vesicular breath sounds heard; with proplonged expiration, vocal fremitus and vocal resonance reduced on all chest areas, high pitched polyphonic inspiratory and expiratory rhonchi heard , coarse crepitations at the base of chest(in most )cases

Question 2

It has a narrow margin of safety.Toxicity is dose dependent. Side effects are dyspepsia,headache,nervousness, insomnia,restlessness, tremor,vomiting, palpitation, diuresis,agitation, tachypnoea,flushing,hypotension,delirium, extrasystole,arrhythmias,convulsions, shock and even death can occur.One should be aware of the adverse effects and dose reduction or change of medication is needed accordingly.

Question 3

Factors triggering asthma are

Allergens,upper respiratory viral infections, exercise,hyperventilation, cold air,sufur dioxide and other irritant gases,drugs(beta blockers,aspirin),stress and other household irritants such as dust mites,paints etc