Inhalers With or Without A Spacer

Table of Contents

Steps

  1. The school personnel checks the 5 rights
  2. Shake the inhaler 10-15 times or for about 5 seconds
  3. The school personnel checks the 5 rights again
  4. Removes the cap and holds the canister in the upright position above the mouthpiece
  5. Visually inspects the mouthpiece for any debris and checks the counter, if applicable
  6. Has the student take a breath and exhale
  7. Places the inhaler mouth piece gently in the student’s mouth on top of the tongue giving instructions to the student to seal lips around the mouth piece
  8. If the student is using a spacer, have the student place the mouth piece of the inhaler into the back of the spacer and hold the inhaler and spacer between pointer finger and thumb with the student sealing the lips around the spacer’s mouth piece
  9. Instruct the student to breathe slowly while administering dose and hold for 5-10 seconds before exhaling while using an inhaler
  10. If the student is using a spacer, instruct the student to take several breathes before removing their mouth from the mouthpiece of the spacer to ensure the student inhales the medication
  11. Place the cap back on the inhaler and if using a spacer, clean the spacer according to the manufacturer label
  12. Encourage the student to rinse their mouth out after using their inhaler with water
  13. Ensure the school personnel complete the 6th right: documentation
  14. Return the medication to the student or place the medication back securely in a locked cabinet to as directed by the prescription label