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Estimate how many students have asthma
Step 1.
What is the burden of asthma in the school?
Recommended action: Estimate the expected number of children in the school with asthma. Complete the School Asthma Worksheet (A-2).
What is the burden of asthma in the school?
Recommended action: Estimate the expected number of children in the school with asthma. Complete the School Asthma Worksheet (A-2).
Identify the students with asthma
Step 2.
Which students have asthma?
Recommended action: Using surveys, annual enrollment questionnaires, medication authorizations, or other methods, create a database or other system that identifies all students who...
Which students have asthma?
Recommended action: Using surveys, annual enrollment questionnaires, medication authorizations, or other methods, create a database or other system that identifies all students who...
- have been hospitalized for asthma-related problems in the last three years
- have required urgent or emergency care due to asthma in last three years
- will be using asthma medications at school
- who take medication daily to control asthma (Examples include Flovent®, QVar®, Pulmicort®, Asmanex®, Alvesco®, Advair®, Dulera®, Symbicort®, theophylline, Singulair®, Tilade®)
- who have used asthma medications in the past year
Engage with parents/guardians
Step 3.
How can the school engage with parents/guardians?
Recommended action: Request parents/guardians complete the Asthma Care at School form (A-6, A-7) for students with asthma. A template letter (A-6) explains to parents/guardians that the form enables school health personnel to administer needed medication
to the student, as determined by the student's health care provider.
Step 4.
How do school nurses and parents/guardians begin collaborating to ensure effective care management?
Recommended action: Arrange a meeting with the student and parents/guardians to complete the School Asthma History and Needs Assessment (B-1) and School Asthma Action Plan (B-2, B-3). In-person or telephone meeting is appropriate. This meeting has the following purposes for effective care management:
How can the school engage with parents/guardians?
Recommended action: Request parents/guardians complete the Asthma Care at School form (A-6, A-7) for students with asthma. A template letter (A-6) explains to parents/guardians that the form enables school health personnel to administer needed medication
to the student, as determined by the student's health care provider.
Step 4.
How do school nurses and parents/guardians begin collaborating to ensure effective care management?
Recommended action: Arrange a meeting with the student and parents/guardians to complete the School Asthma History and Needs Assessment (B-1) and School Asthma Action Plan (B-2, B-3). In-person or telephone meeting is appropriate. This meeting has the following purposes for effective care management:
- Identify student’s current health status and asthma management activities at home
- Evaluate parental need for education & concerns about child’s health & safety
- Identify expectations for asthma care at school (classroom, PE, & field trips)
- Determine specific services student will require at school
- Identify equipment and supplies the child will require during the school day.
- Evaluate student need for education, training, and support
- Obtain written consent from parent/legal guardian to provide asthma services at school
- Obtain consent from parent/legal guardian to communicate with healthcare providers
Inform teachers and staff
Step 5.
What do the teachers and staff need to know?
Recommended action: Inform appropriate staff about a student's School Asthma Action Plan (B-2, B-3). Refer to Unit 8 for information about training school personnel.
What do the teachers and staff need to know?
Recommended action: Inform appropriate staff about a student's School Asthma Action Plan (B-2, B-3). Refer to Unit 8 for information about training school personnel.
Know how to assess asthma control
Step 6.
How is asthma control assessed? What qualifies as "well controlled asthma"?
School nurses should routinely assess control. Monitor and report: 1) frequency of need for quick relief medications, 2) impairment related to breathing problems, 3) missed school days, and 4) diminished airflow measures (FEV1 or PEF). Communicate regularly with parents and asthma care clinicians, especially when asthma is not well controlled.
Recommended action: Study the definitions of well controlled, not well controlled and very poorly controlled asthma, as described in Assessing Asthma Control in Students (A-4).
How is asthma control assessed? What qualifies as "well controlled asthma"?
School nurses should routinely assess control. Monitor and report: 1) frequency of need for quick relief medications, 2) impairment related to breathing problems, 3) missed school days, and 4) diminished airflow measures (FEV1 or PEF). Communicate regularly with parents and asthma care clinicians, especially when asthma is not well controlled.
Recommended action: Study the definitions of well controlled, not well controlled and very poorly controlled asthma, as described in Assessing Asthma Control in Students (A-4).
