How to explain asthma and an action plan
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.
Most asthma attacks can be prevented or treated early at home. A written action plan tells the patient exactly what to do as symptoms change.
Step by step
Explain what asthma is
The airways are swollen and sensitive, and they tighten with triggers. The swelling is there even on good days. [1]
Explain the two types of medicine
A controller, often an inhaled steroid, treats the swelling every day. A reliever opens the airways fast; some plans use one combined inhaler for both. [2]
Walk through the green zone
No symptoms and a peak flow of 80 percent or more of personal best. Keep taking the controller. [3]
Walk through the yellow zone
Cough, wheeze, night waking or a peak flow of 50 to 79 percent. Use the reliever as written and call if not better. [3]
Walk through the red zone
Very short of breath, hard to talk or a peak flow below 50 percent. Use the reliever and call 911. [3]
Check inhaler technique
Watch the patient use the inhaler and spacer. Correct one step at a time. [2]
Name the triggers
Talk about smoke, allergens, colds and exercise and how to reduce them. [4]
Use teach-back
Ask the patient to show what they would do in the yellow zone. [1]
Common errors
- Relying on the reliever with no controller plan.
- Not watching the inhaler technique.
- Writing a plan without the patient's personal best peak flow.
Typical action plan zones [3]
| Zone | Peak flow | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Green | 80 to 100% of personal best | Daily controller as usual |
| Yellow | 50 to 79% | Reliever per plan; call the clinic |
| Red | below 50% | Reliever now; call 911 |
Practice it in VMS
In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
VMS cases that train this skill
Sources
- AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit (Teach-Back)
- Open RN, Nursing Pharmacology 2e (CC BY 4.0)
- NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint
- AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)
Facts and steps follow AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs); AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit (Teach-Back). VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.