Role of Community Nurse in Asthma Self-Management

This assignment discusses the role of community nurse in line with the self-management expectations of Linda and her family in managing asthma. It also explores the development of SMART goals for Linda and the ways in which the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and Telehealth programs can assist Linda and her family in receiving important healthcare.

Date of Submission: 24 th Of August 2020
Word Count: 2750
Table of Content
Introduction.………………………………………………………………………..…..…..1
Discussion
a) Discuss the role of the community nurse in line with the self-management expectations of
Linda and her family at this stage of the illness………………………………………..…...1
b) Develop three SMART goals for Linda that link with the self-management program...2
c) Discuss how the following programs will assist Linda and her family to receive the
important health care that she and her family needs…………………………...………...….4
c.1) Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme………………………………………………...4

c.2) Telehealth………………………………………………………………………...6
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….……...…...7
References………………………………………………………………….………….…......7

Introduction
Self- management plan is an action plan through which the health condition of the patient
with a chronic health condition like asthma, diabetes etc. can be managed with the partnership of
the patient and their healthcare provider. This assignment will emphasize self-management
expectations of a patient living with asthma- Linda, development of self-management program
for her and ways in which Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Telehealth programs can
assist Linda to receive the important health care service. The documentation will describe about
the Asthma, which mainly consider as chronic disease that causes inflammation and narrowing
of airways. At certain level, it will identify the present condition of Linda even at time when
client unaware of any symptoms and directly affecting on the human condition.
Discussion
a) The role of the community nurse in line with the self-management expectations of Linda and
her family at this stage of the illness.
According to the case scenario, National Asthma Council of Australia has provided different
guidance for people living with asthma Zairina, Abramson, McDonald, Li, Dharmasiri, Stewart
& George, 2016). The community registered nurses have been participating in the care of Linda,
who is 66 years old an Aboriginal lady living with asthma and their family.
The community registered nurses have been conducted the self-caring program for adults
aged Linda and also concern about their other family members. Linda has been suffered from
chronic asthma disease so that Nurse would monitor or track current health condition on regular
basis through self-caring program (Zairina, Abramson, McDonald, Li, Dharmasiri, Stewart &
George, 2016). The health improvement can be possible when nurses have established strong
coordination with Linda and her family members. Nurses should be considered a self-
management plan which helps to manage the different health care service on regular basis.
Furthermore, it also provides the appropriate information or data that should be the starting point,
knowledge enables optimal self-management.
The primary role played by nurses through treatment intervention for providing the better care
of "Linda", who has to suffer from asthma chronic illness. Therefore, they can establish the
communication on regular basis while educating about the disease and their consequences. The
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significant role of the nurse is that when addressing self-management need or requirement of
"Linda" with asthma. Furthermore, nurses can educate the patient to increase the therapeutic
environment (Beentjes, van Gaal & Goossens, 2019). Providing clear rules and regulation so that
it support for patient health improvement. The nurse always established the emotional relation
with "Linda" and give medicine, therapies on regular basis. Medical professionals can use
different intervention treatment procedure to monitors the health status of "Linda" and
implementing the various progressive activities (Siltanen, Jylhä & Paavilainen, 2019). Generally,
progressive activities include such as maximal exercise, meditation session etc.
The RN in the community setting does give the better medication but nurses are
responsible for ensuring that Linda and her family about the causes of Asthma. In order to
provide the safety guidance on the basis of intervention (Beentjes, van Gaal & Goossens, 2019).
In additional, nurse can give a proper medication charts of certain drugs which help for relief
pain. On the other hand, medical professional can provide the brief importance of the drug as
well as how to take it and side -effects. -Afterwards, it help with developing the motivation or
inspiration feeling through a self-management approach. This is only given by family and
medical professional support against the asthma disease.
Moreover, the support of family always becoming suspicious of "Linda" whereas each
member gives the power to handle any critical situation or condition (Beentjes, van Gaal &
Goossens, 2019). At every stage of Linda illness, her family give strength and participating in the
medical session which mainly provided by registered nurses.
b) Develop three SMART goals for Linda that link with the self-management program.
The self-management plan can be defined as process, which mainly supports individual
ability to manage the symptoms, treatment and social or physical consequences (Siltanen, Jylhä
& Paavilainen, 2019). As per the scenario, it has identified that lifestyle of Linda change due to
chronic asthma condition. Generally, "Linda" belong to the Aboriginal Australian community.
The National Asthma Council of Australia has taken initiative towards self-management
program. Medical professionals always provide better support for Aboriginal community
population who have not aware about the critical Asthma diseases. The self-management
program can be defined the collaboration, which helping "Linda" and their families to acquire
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more knowledge, skill and confidence to manage their critical condition or health status (Bryan,
Goldsmith, Suryaprakash, Sawatzky, Mulldoon, Le Mercier & Doyle-Waters, 2020). Moreover,
the registered nurses and other health care practitioners can engage with Linda and provide them
with information and support to self-manage their asthma chronic health disease.
Three SMART Goals.
1. To Improve "Linda's" airway chronic asthma disease through self-management plan within 2-
3 months.
2. To improve the mental health condition of "Linda"
3. To access the past history of Linda and then measure current health progress through self-
management program.
These are considered as the SMART goal which always supports the Aboriginal community
in Australia. Approximately, 60% the Aboriginal community population in Australia, suffering
from chronic disease such as Asthma (Siltanen, Jylhä & Paavilainen, 2019). They have no
specific knowledge, idea and awareness about the chronic condition. Therefore, it directly
impacts on the human respiratory system and its functionality.
Goal one: Improve "Linda's" airway chronic asthma disease of "Linda" within 2-3 months.
As per Siltanen, Jylhä & Paavilainen (2019) the problem or issue among aboriginal Linda and
her family in regarding Chronic asthma disease. Health professionals such as Nurses would
provide better health care services. Nurses have been utilizing to monitor anesthesia care,
identifying the respiratory complication that mainly occurred during complication of asthma.
This type of complication has been occurred due to critical causes of asthma, which directly
affects the human respiratory system (Nunes, Pereira & Morais-Almeida, 2017). After examining
the condition of airways in which providing medicine and surgical way to improve Linda's
asthma. In this way, the nurse can overcome the problem and achieve a desirable improvement
goal. it can easily identify the health problem and improve the critical health condition or
situation through a self-management program.
Peterson & Walker (2018) registered nurses have been providing the better facilities and
services. In some situation, it can be identifying the changes in behavior of Linda’s attitude,
through chronic asthma. Nurse can improve the ability of Linda through intervention program
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and also self-examine the physical condition. In this way, it can easily understand that chosen
right medical procedures to improve the airway passage of Linda.
Goal two: To improve mental health of "Linda".
According to Epp, Parkinson & Hawse (2020) loneliness has been explained as a condition
that can lead to depression. Linda has suffered from the chronic health condition so that they can
directly impact on the mental health condition In Australia, The National Asthma Council has
provided guidance to aboriginal patient and their families through self-management program.
(Harris & et.al., 2017). On the behalf of the program or event, Nurses identifying the Linda at
risk because of the poor social network, loneliness. Therefore, the nurse may consider a multi-
disciplinary approach to determine and meet the requirement of Linda (Harris & et.al., 2017).
The major participation of registered nurses and other medical healthcare practitioners,
who will interact with "Linda". To provide accurate information or detail about the chronic
Asthma disease and their consequence in their regular lifestyle. Furthermore, d. This will help
with providing social support and better psychological treatment (Siltanen, Jylhä & Paavilainen,
2019). In this way, government and health practitioner can promote the self-management to
develop their abilities towards health condition or situation. On the other hand, it gives an idea
about chronic Asthma Disease.
Goal three: access the past history of Linda and then measure current health progress through
self-management program.
As per Harris, Daniels, Ward and Pearson (2017), the self-management program mainly
depends upon the particular information or data that would be collected or gathered. To gain
more knowledge about the specific information of Linda and her family.
Initially, it is very difficult to access the information through appropriate resources and
helping the goal to identify the accurate result or outcome. Afterwards, the National Asthma
Council of Australia always concerned about the self-management program. Moreover, the self-
management program should include different activities to implement the specific goal in term of
success (Beentjes, van Gaal & Goossens, 2019). The nurses will participate in the program and
interact with Linda, identifying its current health status or condition. Furthermore, it also
monitors the different activities of her family members. Afterwards, it will be providing a better
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health care service, develop the confidence level among Linda and her family so that they can
improve the lifestyle physical movement with asthma. *
c) Discussion of ways in which the following programs will assist Linda and her family to
receive the important health care that she and her family needs.
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme or PBS is a program that has been developed by the
Australian government that majorly focuses upon provision of subsidised prescription drugs to
Australian residents and to foreign visitors whose health insurance is covered by Reciprocal
Health Care Agreement (Epp, Parkinson & Hawse, 2020). This PBS program has been
developed to ensure that all Australian residents have reliable and affordable access to a wide
range of necessary items (Sainsbury, 2019). It is one of the most effective programs that can
provide Linda with wider access to life-changing asthma drugs. As Linda is an asthmatic patient,
she can access this program and can get access to a wide range of effective treatment. It has been
observed that the mortality rate of a patient with asthma is quite high especially for people who
live in lower socioeconomic areas (Nunes, Pereira & Morais-Almeida, 2017). This is majorly
because asthmatic patients require prescribed inhaler for their regular in combination with other
medicines for better health outcomes (Harris & et.al., 2017). Short-acting relievers such as
salbutamol are quite important for asthma patients. PBS program can help Linda in access these
essential subsidised essential medicines easily so that they can focus upon enhancing her health
outcomes. Without these subsidised medicines her asthma treatment can cost more than $20,000
per year. Without this program, her medical expenditure every year can be increased which can
get difficult for them as well as for their families (Epp, Parkinson & Hawse, 2020).
PBS program is one of the most effective programs that can help patients like Linda for
pharmaceutical management of asthma. This program helps in the provision of PBS card of low-
income families which entitles then to take medicines under PBS at concessional rate or price
(Peterson & Walker, 2018). These medicines can be supplied only by pharmacists and other
medical practitioners approved under the National Health Act, 1953. Not only this, but Linda can
also use PBS card for accessing other required medical services like doctor's consultation,
diagnostic test at the concessional rate (Sainsbury, 2019). PBS program can help Linda and her
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family to receive the important health care like Generic asthma medicines, Short-acting relievers
such as salbutamol, another medical test etc. at much lower and affordable price. Other than this,
if she requires medical consultation in case her condition get worsen then even medical
consultation can be made available to her in concessional price. Other than all of these ones of
the main benefits of this PBS program is that all the medicines, therapies included within this
program that will be required by Linda are approved therapies and medicines that are safe to be
used as compared to other medicines and treatment.
Telehealth.
Telehealth is the distribution of health-related services and information through electronic
information and telecommunication technologies (Kelly, Allman‐Farinelli, Chen, Partridge,
Collins, Rollo & Campbell, 2020). It is a kind of technology with the help of which long-
distance patients, healthcare professionals, carers etc. can connect for education, advice,
monitoring of patient's health, remote admission of patient's health. It is one of the most effective
techniques that can be used by Linda and her family members which can help her in connecting
with her doctor, consult them, her doctor can also continuously monitor her health and if there is
required to bring changes within her medicine then it can also be done effectively and
appropriately.
Slowly usage of telehealth technology is increasing in Australia for better and appropriate
provision of medical and healthcare services (Wood, Mulrennan, Hill, Cecins, Morey & Jenkins,
2017). Telehealth can help in assisting Linda in the management of asthma in many different
ways. It can easily help her to connect with her doctor with the help of a computer or a mobile. It
is one of the most effective techniques that can be used by her for effective management of her
asthma. It can help in booking appointment with her doctor in a more convenient manner
(Bradford, Caffery & Smith, 2016). She can easily use this technology and share important
documents like her test reports, prescription, with her doctor. Even her doctors can check her
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reports and there is the requirement of consulting an expert professional then she can easily get
connected and receive required service.
Telehealth program can help asthma patients like Linda so that she can easily access
convenient and quality as she lives with her family so it would be much easier for her to access
required services. Not only this there are many healthcare experts or coaches available upon
telehealth who are registered nurses, practitioners (Kelly & et.al., 2020). Linda can access expert
advice of asthma coaches for different kinds of services like learning proper inhaler technique,
dealing and identifying environment triggers that can worsen her health and learn ways in which
she can keep her asthma under control (Wood, J., Mulrennan, S., Hill, K., Cecins, N., Morey, S.,
& Jenkins, S. 2017). If she is having any kind of allergy then she can consult her doctor get the
required test done nearby and upload reports online so that her doctor can easily check and
prescribe her medicine and further treatment or therapies (Zairina, Abramson, McDonald, Li,
Dharmasiri, Stewart & George, 2016). It is a primary method that can be used by her doctor so
that they can continuously remote monitoring of her health through which they will not only be
able to analyse her health outcome but can also provide her with cost-effective methods form the
management of her health condition.
Conclusion
From the above assignment, it has been summarized that there are various kinds of programs
that can be used by patients with chronic health condition so that they can work with their health
care providers and manage their health in a much better manner.
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