Developing a nurse-led salbutamol weaning pathway for children and young people with asthma or viral-induced wheeze

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Nursing Education
• Quality Improvement in Healthcare

Background:

• Acute asthma exacerbations and viral-induced wheeze are frequent admissions in pediatric wards.
• Salbutamol (inhaled beta-2 agonist) is the primary treatment, requiring careful weaning before discharge.
• Informal weaning practices and staffing challenges necessitated a structured approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a nurse-led salbutamol weaning pathway.
• To assess nurses' perceptions of a new training and competency package.
• To improve the quality of care for pediatric patients with wheeze.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement project implemented a nurse-led salbutamol weaning pathway.
• Twelve nurses completed a specialized training, education, and competency program.
• A post-training questionnaire assessed nurses' perceptions of the pathway and training.

Main Results:

• All nurses reported enhanced confidence in assessing salbutamol requirements.
• Respondents believed the pathway would improve patient care and family confidence in nursing assessments.
• Nurses perceived the training positively, enhancing their ability to manage wheeze exacerbations.

Conclusions:

• The nurse-led salbutamol weaning pathway and training enhance nursing confidence and perceived patient care quality.
• This initiative addresses challenges in managing pediatric wheeze exacerbations.
• Time constraints were identified as a potential barrier to full pathway implementation.