Introduction
This essay aims to appraise the critical role of the adult nurse within a multidisciplinary team (MDT) when providing care to an adult patient with asthma, aligning with professional, ethical, and legal frameworks. Asthma, a chronic respiratory condition affecting millions in the UK, requires a coordinated and holistic approach to management to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Nurses, as frontline healthcare providers, play a pivotal role in direct care, patient education, and interprofessional collaboration. This discussion will explore the nurse’s responsibilities in delivering evidence-based care, adhering to ethical principles, and complying with legal standards. Key areas of focus include the nurse’s contribution to MDT collaboration, patient-centered care, and the integration of professional guidelines such as those from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). By examining these elements, this essay seeks to highlight the centrality of the adult nurse in improving health outcomes for asthma patients.
The Adult Nurse’s Role in Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration
The adult nurse operates as a central figure within the MDT, facilitating communication and coordination among various healthcare professionals to manage asthma effectively. An MDT for an asthma patient may include respiratory consultants, physiotherapists, pharmacists, and general practitioners, each contributing specialised expertise. The nurse’s role involves acting as a patient advocate, ensuring that the patient’s needs and preferences are communicated across the team. For instance, if a patient struggles with medication adherence due to complex inhaler techniques, the nurse collaborates with the pharmacist to simplify the regimen or explore alternative delivery methods (Sign, 2019).
Moreover, nurses contribute to care planning by providing detailed assessments of the patient’s condition, such as monitoring peak flow readings and identifying triggers. This data is vital for informing MDT decisions, ensuring that interventions are tailored to the individual. The NMC Code mandates that nurses work cooperatively within teams, respecting the skills of colleagues while maintaining accountability for their own contributions (NMC, 2018). This collaborative approach not only enhances care quality but also reduces the risk of fragmented services, which can be detrimental to asthma management. However, challenges such as time constraints or differing professional perspectives may occasionally hinder effective teamwork, requiring the nurse to exercise diplomacy and problem-solving skills.
Delivering Patient-Centered Care for Asthma Management
Central to the adult nurse’s role is the delivery of patient-centered care, which prioritises the individual needs and values of the asthma patient. This involves educating patients about their condition, including the importance of adherence to prescribed treatments such as inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators. Education empowers patients to self-manage their condition, reducing the frequency of acute exacerbations and hospital admissions (Gibson et al., 2003). For example, a nurse might demonstrate proper inhaler technique or develop an asthma action plan in collaboration with the patient, ensuring they know when to seek emergency care.
Furthermore, nurses must adopt a holistic approach, addressing not only physical symptoms but also the psychological and social impacts of asthma. Anxiety and depression are common comorbidities among asthma patients, often exacerbated by the fear of sudden attacks. The nurse, therefore, plays a crucial role in providing emotional support and referring patients to mental health services when necessary (Thomas et al., 2010). This aligns with the ethical principle of beneficence, which compels nurses to act in the best interest of the patient, as outlined in the NMC Code (NMC, 2018). By considering the broader context of the patient’s life, nurses ensure that care is not merely clinical but also compassionate and comprehensive.
Adherence to Professional, Ethical, and Legal Frameworks
The practice of adult nursing in asthma care is governed by established professional, ethical, and legal frameworks that ensure safe and accountable care delivery. Professionally, nurses must adhere to the NMC Code, which emphasises the importance of preserving dignity, maintaining confidentiality, and obtaining informed consent (NMC, 2018). For instance, before initiating any intervention—such as adjusting a patient’s medication under a consultant’s guidance—a nurse must explain the procedure and its implications, ensuring the patient’s autonomy is respected.
Legally, nurses are bound by statutes such as the Health and Social Care Act 2012, which mandates the provision of high-quality care within the NHS. This includes following clinical guidelines, such as those provided by NICE, which outline evidence-based approaches to asthma diagnosis and management (NICE, 2017). Failure to comply with these guidelines could result in substandard care and potential legal repercussions, underscoring the importance of evidence-based practice. Ethically, dilemmas may arise, such as when a patient refuses treatment due to personal beliefs. In such cases, the nurse must balance respect for autonomy with the duty to prevent harm, often seeking guidance from the MDT or ethical committees to resolve conflicts.
Challenges and Limitations in the Nurse’s Role
Despite the pivotal role of the adult nurse, several challenges can impact their effectiveness within the MDT. Staffing shortages and high workloads, common in the NHS, may limit the time available for thorough patient education or follow-up care, potentially compromising outcomes (Royal College of Nursing, 2020). Additionally, while nurses are trained to provide holistic care, their scope of practice is sometimes constrained by institutional policies or hierarchical dynamics within the MDT, which can hinder their ability to influence care decisions. These limitations highlight the need for systemic support, such as adequate staffing and clear role definitions, to enable nurses to fulfil their potential in asthma care.
Moreover, cultural or linguistic barriers may complicate communication with patients, necessitating the use of interpreters or culturally sensitive approaches. While nurses are generally equipped to address such challenges, the availability of resources may vary across settings, posing ethical questions about equity in care provision. Addressing these issues requires not only individual competence but also advocacy for broader policy changes to support equitable healthcare delivery (Marmot et al., 2020).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the adult nurse holds a critical position within the multidisciplinary team when caring for adult patients with asthma, ensuring that care is coordinated, patient-centered, and aligned with professional, ethical, and legal frameworks. Through collaboration with the MDT, nurses facilitate comprehensive care plans that address both clinical and psychosocial needs. Their commitment to patient education and advocacy enhances asthma management, reducing the burden of exacerbations. However, challenges such as workload pressures and systemic limitations underscore the need for ongoing support and policy reform to optimise their impact. Ultimately, the nurse’s role is integral to improving health outcomes, and their ability to navigate complex ethical and legal landscapes ensures that care remains safe and compassionate. For future practice, it is imperative to address the identified barriers, enabling nurses to fully contribute to the holistic care of asthma patients within the evolving healthcare environment.
References
- Gibson, P.G., Powell, H., Wilson, A., et al. (2003) Self-management education and regular practitioner review for adults with asthma. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (1).
- Marmot, M., Allen, J., Boyce, T., et al. (2020) Health Equity in England: The Marmot Review 10 Years On. The Health Foundation.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). (2017) Asthma: Diagnosis, Monitoring and Chronic Asthma Management. NICE Guidelines.
- Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). (2018) The Code: Professional Standards of Practice and Behaviour for Nurses, Midwives and Nursing Associates. NMC.
- Royal College of Nursing (RCN). (2020) Nursing Workforce Challenges: Impact on Patient Care. RCN Report.
- Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). (2019) British Guideline on the Management of Asthma. SIGN Publication.
- Thomas, M., Bruton, A., Moffat, M., et al. (2010) Asthma and psychological dysfunction. Primary Care Respiratory Journal, 19(3), 250-256.
