OSCE Practice – Asthma Attack (Acute Asthma)
Practise recognising and managing an asthma emergency in a dental setting, following NEBDN OSCE expectations.
Scenario
A patient begins to experience difficulty breathing during a dental procedure. They appear anxious, are wheezing, and are using their reliever inhaler but are not improving. You are the dental nurse assisting the clinician.
Your Task
- Identify the condition
- Initiate immediate management using the patient’s inhaler
- Position the patient to aid breathing
- Recognise signs of deterioration
- Escalate appropriately if there is no improvement
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Key Learning Points
- Asthma attacks are caused by airway narrowing leading to wheezing and breathlessness
- Position the patient upright to improve breathing
- Use a salbutamol inhaler as first-line treatment
- Administer oxygen if required in severe cases
- Increasing breathlessness indicates deterioration and requires urgent action