NREMT Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Cognitive ExamAirway, Respiration & VentilationMedium
An EMT is assisting a 72-year-old female with her prescribed metered-dose inhaler (MDI) for acute asthma exacerbation. After ensuring the correct medication and checking the expiration date, what is the next step in the administration process?
- AActivate the inhaler and immediately have the patient inhale slowly.
- BHave the patient take a deep breath and hold it for 10 seconds after activating the inhaler.
- CShake the inhaler vigorously for 30 seconds.
- DInstruct the patient to exhale completely before placing the mouthpiece in her mouth.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Instruct the patient to exhale completely before placing the mouthpiece in her mouth.
Before activating the inhaler, the patient should exhale completely. This creates space in the lungs for the medication and allows for a deeper, more effective inhalation of the medication.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The patient should exhale completely BEFORE activating the inhaler and inhaling, not immediately after activation.
- B. Holding the breath is done AFTER inhalation, not during or before.
- C. Shaking the inhaler is important, but 30 seconds is excessive; a few seconds is typically sufficient. This step also comes before exhaling.
MDI Administration Steps
Proper use of a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) is crucial for effective medication delivery to the lungs in patients with respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD.
- Ensure correct medication, expiration date, and patient understanding.
- Shake the inhaler well before use.
- Patient exhales completely, then seals lips around mouthpiece, activates inhaler while inhaling slowly and deeply.
- Hold breath for 5-10 seconds, then exhale slowly. Wait 30-60 seconds between puffs.
Memory trick: Shake, Exhale, Inhale, Hold – for your lungs, make it bold!