Assessment and therapeutic management of acute asthma: The approaches of nursing staff in patient care

Abstract

Acute severe asthma describes serious asthmatic attacks, which remain a major treatment challenge and a significant source of morbidity in adults. It places the patient in danger of developing respiratory failure, a condition known as status asthmaticus. It is often fatal if not recognized and treated early. Many patients are at risk for numerous reasons; thus, the key issues are early detection, assessment and management. A multidisciplinary and collaborative approach is needed to effectively treat acute respiratory failure (ARF). Considerable research has investigated the range of opportunities available for treating asthma. Current treatment options include conventional agents, such as inhalational corticosteroids, â-agonists, leukotriene modulators, monoclonal antibodies, and oral corticosteroids (OCS). Nurses are in a perfect position to assess patients' risk of developing respiratory failure, monitor them, evaluate their care, and coordinate a multidisciplinary approach. In this review, we discuss acute asthma and the role of the nursing officer (NO) in the management of the illness. The review will also emphasize various current treatment approaches available for the NO that can effectively target and prevent respiratory failure. This review provides nurses and other healthcare workers with updated information on timely, effective and safe supportive management of patients with asthma.