Asthma Nursing Care Plan: 2 Sample Plans and Interventions

Asthma is a chronic condition where the airways swell, tighten, and fill with mucus in response to triggers. Attacks can range from mild to life-threatening. Your priorities are opening the airway, improving oxygenation, and teaching inhaler use and trigger control.

A · AssessmentD · DiagnosisP · PlanningI · InterventionE · Evaluation

Each care plan below follows the nursing process (ADPIE).

CARE PLAN 1 · NURSING DIAGNOSIS

Ineffective Airway Clearance

Related to

Bronchospasm and airway swelling
Increased thick mucus

As evidenced by

Wheezing
Coughing and chest tightness
Shortness of breath and use of accessory muscles
Low peak flow

PLANNING · EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Short-term goals

Client's wheezing decreases within 1 hour of a rescue bronchodilator
SpO2 at or above the ordered goal

Long-term goals

Client controls asthma with fewer attacks and uses an action plan

ASSESSMENT

Lung sounds before and after treatments
Respiratory rate, SpO2, and work of breathing
Peak flow as ordered
Ability to speak in full sentences

INTERVENTIONS AND RATIONALES

INTERVENTION	RATIONALE
Give a short-acting bronchodilator such as albuterol as ordered	It quickly relaxes airway muscles.
Give corticosteroids as ordered	Steroids reduce airway swelling.
Sit the client upright and give oxygen as ordered	This helps lung expansion and oxygenation.
Report a quiet chest or inability to speak right away	Decreasing wheezing with worse distress can mean almost no air is moving.

EVALUATION

Wheezing is decreased
SpO2 meets the goal
Client speaks in full sentences

CARE PLAN 2 · NURSING DIAGNOSIS

Deficient Knowledge

Related to

New diagnosis
Unfamiliar inhaler technique
Unclear about triggers

As evidenced by

Incorrect inhaler use
Frequent attacks or ER visits
Client asks how to prevent attacks

PLANNING · EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Short-term goals

Client demonstrates correct inhaler use before discharge

Long-term goals

Client follows an asthma action plan and avoids known triggers

ASSESSMENT

Inhaler technique
Known triggers at home and work
Understanding of rescue versus controller medications

INTERVENTIONS AND RATIONALES

INTERVENTION	RATIONALE
Teach correct inhaler use with a spacer	Correct technique gets more medication into the lungs.
Teach the difference between rescue and controller medications	Rescue inhalers treat attacks. Controllers prevent them and must be used daily.
Teach to rinse the mouth after inhaled steroids	This helps prevent oral thrush.
Help the client identify and avoid triggers	Avoiding triggers reduces attacks.

EVALUATION

Client demonstrates correct inhaler technique
Client explains rescue versus controller
Client lists personal triggers

Practice this in Pharmacy

Pick the right inhaler and order of medications for an asthma attack.

Play Pharmacy

Quick answers

Which inhaler does the client use first during an asthma attack?

The short-acting bronchodilator, like albuterol. If using both a bronchodilator and a steroid, give the bronchodilator first to open the airways.

Why is a silent chest an emergency?

It means very little air is moving through the airways, so the client may be close to respiratory failure.

For learning only. Individualize every care plan to your client, and follow your program, current guidelines, provider orders, and facility policy.