Asthma and Stepwise Management

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Question Description

APA FORMAT PLEASE ASSIGNMENT, TWO PAGES PLEASE

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 symptoms. 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. 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:
  • Consider 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.
  • Review Chapter 25 of the Arcangelo and Peterson text. Reflect on using the stepwise approach to asthma treatment and management.
  • Consider how stepwise management assists health care providers and patients in gaining and maintaining control of the disease.

BY DAY 7

Write a 2- page paper that addresses the following:

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

Reminder: The School of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements (available at http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/57.htm). All papers submitted must use this formatting.

Week 4: Respiratory System

In the United States, 12 million people suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, n.d.), and about 25 million people suffer from asthma (CDC, 2011). Since various symptoms are associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and other common respiratory disorders, a single patient might be prescribed multiple drugs for treatment. Consider an 8-year-old asthmatic patient who frequently presents with acute asthma exacerbations that are triggered by seasonal allergies. As a result of his disorder, he might be prescribed albuterol to treat asthma attacks and Clarinex to treat allergic reactions. This requires you, as the advanced practice nurse, to be aware of risks of polypharmacy and patient factors that impact the effects of drugs.

This week you examine types of drugs prescribed to patients with respiratory disorders, as well as the impact of patient factors on the effects of drugs. You also explore ways to improve patient treatment plans including suggested drug therapies. Finally, you examine asthma treatment and management.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this week, students will:
  • Analyze types of drugs prescribed to treat respiratory disorders
  • Evaluate the impact of patient factors on the effects of prescribed drugs for respiratory disorders
  • Evaluate drug therapy plans for respiratory disorders
  • Assess the impact of asthma treatments on patients
  • Analyze the stepwise approach to asthma treatment and management
  • Understand and apply key terms, concepts, and principles related to prescribing drugs to treat respiratory disorders

Photo Credit: lovleah/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

Learning Resources

This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of this week’s assigned Learning Resources. To access select media resources, please use the media player below.

REQUIRED READINGS

Arcangelo, V. P., Peterson, A. M., Wilbur, V., & Reinhold, J. A. (Eds.). (2017). Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice: A practical approach (4th ed.). Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

  • Chapter 18, “Otitis Media and Otitis Externa” (pp. 243-252) 
    This chapter compares the causes and pathophysiology of two common ear infections—otitis media and otitis externa. It also identifies types of drugs used to treat these ear infections.
  • Chapter 24, “Upper Respiratory Infections” (pp. 259-374) 
    This chapter explores the causes, pathophysiology, and diagnostic criteria of two upper respiratory infections—the common cold and sinusitis—as well as drug therapy for both infections. It also covers monitoring patient response and patient education of drug therapy for these infections.
  • Chapter 25, “Asthma” (pp. 377-392) 
    This chapter examines the causes, pathophysiology, pharmacogenomics, and diagnostic criteria of asthma. It also outlines suggested drug therapy plans for asthmatic patients.
  • Chapter 26, “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease” (pp. 395-406) 
    This chapter explains the causes and pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It also examines the process of selecting, administering, and managing drug therapy for COPD patients.
  • Chapter 27, “Bronchitis and Pneumonia” (pp. 407-424) 
    This chapter begins by examining the causes, pathophysiology, and diagnostic criteria of acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, and community-acquired pneumonia. It then explores the process of selecting, administering, and managing drug therapy for patients with bronchitis and pneumonia.

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. (2007). Expert panel report 3 (EPR3): Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdl…
This website presents guidelines for diagnosing and managing asthma and outlines treatment recommendations for specific age groups.

OPTIONAL RESOURCES

Refer to the Optional Resources listed in Week 1.