Asthma

Dillon Brown is a 7 year old male who is admitted into the hospital as a patient. He has had asthma since he was a baby and recently couldn't get any better after using his inhaler. He recently became sick and was diagnosed with pneumonia which led to his admission into the hospital. He is anxious with all of the uncertainty.

Inpatient Hospital Room

1. Recognize clinical signs of asthma exacerbation
2. Conduct a focused respiratory assessment
3. Monitor for response to treatment and identify signs of worsening status such as silent chest, fatigue, or changes in mental status.
4. Maintain a calm, child-friendly environment, using therapeutic communication techniques to reduce anxiety and improve cooperation.
5. Educate the patient and caregiver on asthma triggers, medication use (e.g., inhaler technique), and early warning signs of exacerbation.
6. Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team, including respiratory therapy and pediatric providers, for escalation of care if needed.

1. Perform and document a focused pediatric respiratory assessment, identifying key signs of asthma exacerbation.
2. Escalate care using structured communication (e.g., SBAR) when signs of respiratory failure emerge.
3. Educate the caregiver and child on asthma action plans, medication adherence, and trigger avoidance.
4. Use developmentally appropriate language and strategies to reduce fear and support the child through treatment.
5. Accurately document assessment findings, treatments, and patient responses in the EMR.