Pediatric Asthma Action Plan

An Asthma Action Plan is a treatment plan that provides instructions advised by a doctor or other health care provider, which helps provide an outline for when medications and other measures must be taken. It helps to teach patients and parents when and how to give their children medication and know when to adjust them as necessary should conditions or symptoms change. The Pediatric Asthma Action plan is necessary to teach parents and other adults to respond and manage asthma as well as keep it under control.

The RN identified a knowledge deficient related to management of Henry’s Asthma. The parents have gotten into the habit of taking him to the hospital when he gets fatigued and short of breath, however, do not understand how to take preventative measures to manage the problem. The importance of Henry’s Pediatric Asthma Action plan must be stressed to his parents so that they will be empowered to sufficiently address and control his asthma attacks. These parameters will empower Henry’s parents to take preventative measures before the symptoms exacerbate as well as manage medical alerts.

Though environmental conditions have not changed, it is possible that Henry is being exposed to diagnosed allergies or something that is not an apparent trigger for his attacks. It is also possible that his own physical activity may cause him to develop shortness of breath. As an active 10-year-old boy, Henry’s action plan should include a predetermined dosage of medicine before and after planned physical activity. In this developmental stage of his childhood, he will need to continue to remain active and have significant amounts of exercise and physical activity. 

The breakdown of the action plan will help the parents understand how to identify and treat Henry’s asthma when it is getting well, getting worse, and develops into a medical alert (CDC, 2013). When Henry is doing well, meaning he is not coughing and wheezing and can participate in usual activities, his plan should specify a routine that details what medicine to take, how much, and when. If a peak flow meter is being used, the plan can specify the parameters of the flow and dictate the medicinal routine based on it. 

His teaching plan will provide a detailed control process for if Henry begins coughing or wheezing, resulting in chest tightness and shortness of breath. Quick relief medicine will be used in addition to the daily anti-inflammatory medicine. It will offer parameters for when it is necessary to call the doctor and indicate waiting times to allow the medicine to take effect.

The next area that needs to be addressed prior to discharge is the action plan for when Henry is very short of breath and quick relief medicines have not helped.  It will detail what medicine to use and indicate how long to wait before calling the doctor or going to the Emergency Department. The action plan will also highlight danger signs as well as explain how to control things that could potentially irritate or worsen Henry’s asthma. 

The Asthma Action plan will be aligned with the guidelines for evidenced based practiced for children with asthma. These guidelines emphasize the importance of asthma control and introduce effective approaches for monitoring it. Components of the current guidelines include assessment and monitoring, patient education, control of environmental factors and other asthma triggers, and medication suggestions and parameters (NIH, 2007). Prior to discharge, Henry’s parents must be advised of these components as well as the helpful and necessary aspects of a Pediatric Asthma Action Plan.

In conclusion, Henry’s asthma can be effectively monitored by adhering to an Asthma Action Plan. Before he is discharged the RN will explain the importance of the plan and explain how to follow it. By providing patient education, and an effective management approach, the Pediatric Asthma Action plan can significantly improve Henry’s condition. 

References

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2013). Asthma Action Plan. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/actionplan.html 

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (2007). National Asthma guidelines updated: New approaches for monitoring asthma control, expanded recommendations for children. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/aug2007/nhlbi-29.htm