An 8-year old child, who has a history of asthma is seen in the office of the school nurse with coughing and wheezing. Which of the following actions should the nurse perform first?
Educate the child to avoid triggers.
Administer albuterol
Transport the child to the emergency department.
Assess the child's peak expiratory flow and compare it to the Asthma Action plan.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Educate the child to avoid triggers.
While avoiding triggers is important for long-term asthma management, it may not address the immediate symptoms of coughing and wheezing.
B. Administer albuterol
Administering albuterol is a common and effective rescue treatment for asthma symptoms like coughing and wheezing. This can provide quick relief.
C. Transport the child to the emergency department.
This is a drastic step and may not be necessary unless the child's symptoms are severe and not responding to initial interventions.
D. Assess the child's peak expiratory flow and compare it to the Asthma Action plan.
Assessing peak expiratory flow and comparing it to the Asthma Action plan is a good practice. However, it might take time, and immediate relief is also crucial.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Educate the child to avoid triggers.
While avoiding triggers is important for long-term asthma management, it may not address the immediate symptoms of coughing and wheezing.
B. Administer albuterol
Administering albuterol is a common and effective rescue treatment for asthma symptoms like coughing and wheezing. This can provide quick relief.
C. Transport the child to the emergency department.
This is a drastic step and may not be necessary unless the child's symptoms are severe and not responding to initial interventions.
D. Assess the child's peak expiratory flow and compare it to the Asthma Action plan.
Assessing peak expiratory flow and comparing it to the Asthma Action plan is a good practice. However, it might take time, and immediate relief is also crucial.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Productive cough, rales
A productive cough with rales (crackling or bubbling sounds in the lungs) is more indicative of conditions like pneumonia or bronchitis, not necessarily asthma.
B. Fever, general malaise
Fever and general malaise are more consistent with infections and not specific to asthma.
C. Stridor, suprasternal retractions
Stridor (high-pitched sound during breathing) and suprasternal retractions (visible sinking of the area just above the breastbone during inhalation) can be associated with upper airway obstruction but are not typical findings in asthma.
D. Nonproductive cough, wheezing
Asthma often presents with a nonproductive cough and wheezing. Wheezing is a common characteristic of asthma due to narrowed airways.
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