Management of the Asthma Patient

Instructions

It is anticipated that the initial discussion post should be in the range of 250-300 words. Response posts to peers have no minimum word requirement but must demonstrate topic knowledge and scholarly engagement with peers. Substantive content is imperative for all posts. All discussion prompt elements for the topic must be addressed. Please proofread your response carefully for grammar and spelling. Do not upload any attachments unless specified in the instructions. All posts should be supported by a minimum of one scholarly resource, ideally within the last 5 years. Journals and websites must be cited appropriately. Citations and references must adhere to APA format.

Classroom Participation

Students are expected to address the initial discussion question by Wednesday of each week. Participation in the discussion forum requires a minimum of three (3) substantive postings (this includes your initial post and posting to two peers) on three (3) different days. Substantive means that you add something new to the discussion supported with citation(s) and reference(s), you are not just agreeing. This is also a time to ask questions or offer information surrounding the topic addressed by your peers. Personal experience is appropriate for a substantive discussion, however should be correlated to the literature.

All discussion boards will be evaluated utilizing rubric criterion inclusive of content, analysis, collaboration, writing and APA. If you fail to post an initial discussion or initial discussion is late, you will not receive points for content and analysis, you may however post to your peers for partial credit following the guidelines above.

Initial Response

Instructions:

You are seeing a 16-year-old patient previously diagnosed with mild persistent asthma for a routine follow-up visit. 

• She is currently taking beclomethasone dipropionate (Qvar) MDI 40mcg/inhalation one puff twice daily for asthma maintenance and using albuterol (ProAir HFA) MDI 90mcg/inhalation 2 puffs every 4 hours as needed for shortness of breath or wheezing.
• In the last two months she reports using her albuterol inhaler during daytime hours an average of three times per week.
• She reports awakening at night with asthma symptoms about twice per month.
• She does not feel that she has any limitations to her activity due to asthma symptoms.
• Upon examination today her blood pressure is 110/76, heart rate is 68, respiratory rate is 18, O2 saturation is 96% on room air, and temperature is 97.8. Her lung sounds are clear, heart rhythm is regular, and skin is pink and dry.

Please develop a discussion post that responds to each of the following prompts.  Where appropriate your discussion needs to be supported by scholarly resources.  Be sure to include in-text citations in the context of the discussion and provide a full reference citation at the end of the discussion post:

• Provide your diagnosis.
• Discuss how you would manage the patient’s current asthma regimen and provide a rationale supported by scholarly reference for your treatment plan.
• Include your specific prescription(s) for the patient. (This must include the medication name, dose, route, and frequency as well as any special instructions that apply as you would include when writing a prescription).
• Describe the patient education you would provide in relation to your treatment plan.
• Provide your plan for follow-up and/or referral (if indicated)

Please be sure to validate your opinions and ideas with citations and references in APA format.