Asthma Assessment and Management Course

Fact Sheet Study Days Agenda Student Comments

The prevalence of asthma is growing worldwide, despite improved understanding of the disease process and effective medicines for treatment.  In the United States, there are more than 17 million persons with asthma. Annually the disease accounts for more than 15 million outpatient visits, over 445,000 hospitalizations, 1.2 million ER visits, 10 million missed school days, and 5000 deaths.   Uncontrolled asthma not only accounts for missed school and work, decreased ability to participate in normal activities, growth retardation, and decreased quality of life, it is also associated with permanent airway damage when inadequately treated over time.

Despite the existence of national guidelines for more than 10 years, the treatment of asthma remains suboptimal.  One explanation is that clinical decision making is not greatly affected by traditional medical lectures.  Rather, approaches that integrate new skills into actual practice are required in order to change clinical behavior and improve patient outcomes.

Learning Objectives

At the completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate a solid understanding of disease process and medications
• Take a comprehensive patient history and understand significance of information gathered
• Apply criteria for diagnosis and staging to case study patients
• Design a comprehensive management plan for adults and children, including appropriate medications, devices, and self-monitoring
• Write an asthma action plan
• Recognize signs and symptoms of acute exacerbation and recommend proper treatment.

Target Audience

The Asthma Course is designed for licensed health professionals: nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and physicians.  Because the course focuses on clinical practice, applicants are expected to be actively working with asthma patients, either in primary or secondary care.

Course Format

The Asthma Course is a comprehensive 12-week program including 2 interactive study days, self study, and a formal written evaluation process.

Interactive study days 

Approximately half-way through the Asthma Course, students join an expert trainer for 2 intense and interactive study days.  Participants review asthma pathophysiology, lung function testing, medications, delivery devices, patient education strategies, staging and treatment guidelines.  Using case studies, students work through assessment and management of a variety of patient presentations, learning to integrate and apply new knowledge and skills.

Self study

Course materials consist of a comprehensive workbook and CD-ROM on Respiratory Therapeutics.  Each unit of the workbook contains learning activities, recommended reading, and references. Students receive their materials by mail at the beginning of the study period.

Evaluation:  Becoming an NRTC Asthma Course Graduate

Mastery of course material and application to practice is evaluated at 2 points.

Objective exam to be completed by the mid-course study days

Practical examination during the study days on device choice and device teaching

Two papers to be completed by the end of the course

Case-based assessment and management paper

Reflective paper about an actual patient whose care benefited from knowledge gained during the Asthma Course

Students who obtain a combined score of 60% or greater on these examinations become an Asthma Course Graduate and receive the NRTC Asthma Course Certificate of Completion. 

Accreditation

• AANP. This program has been approved for up to 24.8 contact hours of continuing education (which includes up to 13.9 hours of pharmacology) by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.  Program ID 0612468.
• AAPA. This program has been reviewed and is approved for a maximum of 11.5 hours of AAPA Category I (Pre-approved) CME credit by the Physician Assistant Review Panel. 
• AARC. The American Association for Respiratory Care has granted the Asthma Course 22.5 hours of continuing education credit (CRCE).  Provider #9380443.
• CBRN. The Asthma Course has been approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #13556 for 49.8 contact hours.

Tuition

Individual tuition for the Asthma Course is $595.  Costs related to travel, accommodation, and meals to attend the study days are the responsibility of the student.

Location

The Asthma Course is held in various locations across the United States. For more information about upcoming courses, starting a course in your area, or enrollment, please contact our national office:

National Respiratory Training Center

PO Box 5468

Suffolk, VA 23435

Telephone:  Main Office 757-483-4130

Education Department: 757-668-6455                      

Fax:  757-483-4261

Email:  info@nrtc-usa.org

Check our schedule of Upcoming Training Programs to find a course near you.

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