Final answer:
To assess the severity of asthma, a nurse monitors lung sounds through auscultation, checks the peak flow rate, and evaluates the severity of symptoms such as coughing and wheezing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The severity of asthma can be assessed by a healthcare professional through several measures. Auscultation of the lungs allows the nurse to listen to the breathing sounds, which may indicate wheezing or other abnormalities. Measuring the peak flow is another critical diagnostic tool that provides information on how well the lungs expel air. Lastly, evaluating the severity of symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness helps determine how seriously the asthma is affecting the patient. While a spacer is a device that aids in the delivery of medication from an inhaler, it is not directly a measure of asthma severity, and while the state of dehydration can impact a person's overall health, it is not typically a primary measure for assessing asthma severity.