Question

A nurse is providing teaching to a school-age child who has asthma about using an albuterol metered dose inhaler. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

a) Use the inhaler only when you're experiencing severe difficulty breathing.
b) Hold your breath for 5 seconds after inhaling the medication.
c) Clean the inhaler with water and soap after each use.
d) Skip your controller medication on days when you feel fine.

Answer 1

The nurse should instruct the child to hold their breath for 5 seconds after inhaling medication from an albuterol metered dose inhaler to manage asthma. Cleaning the inhaler with soap and water regularly, but not after each use, is also important.

Step-by-step explanation:

When instructing a school-age child on using an albuterol metered dose inhaler for asthma, the nurse should include the following instruction: Hold your breath for 5 seconds after inhaling the medication. This helps ensure the medication is fully absorbed into the airways. Correct usage of an inhaler is vital for managing asthma symptoms, which can include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing during an asthma attack. The inhaler should not only be used during severe difficulty breathing but also as prescribed by a healthcare provider. It is important to clean the inhaler with water and soap, but not necessarily after each use; this can be done weekly or according to the manufacturer's instructions. Lastly, it is not advisable to skip controller medication on days when feeling fine, as these medications are intended for long-term management and work to prevent asthma attacks.