How to Use Triage for Asthma

Asthma sufferers often grapple with the decision to go to a doctor, emergency room or just wait it out with their medication when faced with an episode or attack. Nurses or doctors can often calm the fears, answer questions and determine if a medical visit is necessary by doing a proper triage of asthma patients which includes asking specific questions and basing their answers off of them to determine proper care. The follow article assumes that a medical professional will be asking the questions but can also be used a guideline for laymen.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencil or pen

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Instructions

• 1

  Ask the patient if he or she has been diagnosed with asthma.

• 2

  Ask the patient if they are taking any prescription or over the counter (OTC) medicine for their asthma and write the names down on a piece of paper.

• 3

  Obtain information on how the medication is taken. It is by inhaler, spacer, nebulizer or pills? Write this down.

• 4

  Ask if a peak flow meter is used. If yes, ask what the baseline reading is, and if unsure, what color the arrow has reached - green, yellow or red. Write this down.

• 5

  Perform a symptom analysis. Ask the patient if there is: persistent wheezing even after medication is taken, difficulty breathing or unable to breathe while laying down, blue lips, weakness, or a peak flow meter reading of below 50%. If yes, tell them to seek emergency care immediately or to call an ambulance if their breathing difficulty is too severe.

• 6

  Tell patients who are experiencing vomiting, some shortness of breath and/or a peak flow meter reading of between 50 - 80% to seek medicial care in two - four hours if symptoms persist.

• 7

  Request and reassure patients who are experiencing fever, an unresponsive to medicine cough, yellow or green phglem, or a peak flow meter reading above 80% to seek medical care in twenty-four hours if symptoms persist.

• 8

  Properly document symptoms, advice given and or care provided.