Impact of an emergency nurse-initiated asthma management protocol on door-to-first-salbutamol-nebulization-time in a pediatric emergency department.

Objective: To determine the effect of an ED nurse-initiated asthma management protocol on door to first salbutamol nebulization time.

Methods: This was a prospective before-after study. Asthmatics, aged 1 to 12 years presenting to the ED with an exacerbation during the pre and post nurse-initiated care phases (from 1/22/08 to 2/8/08 and from 2/12/08 to 3/4/08), were eligible.