Tim

e
1mi
n

Specific
objective

Content

Teacher
learning
activities

Introducti
on :
Inhalation is
the act of
drawing in
air, vapour or
gas in to
lungs. drugs
are inhaled
either for a
local effect
(e.g. steam
inhalations to
relieve
congestion in
the
respiratory
tract) or for a
general effect
e.g, inhalation
of oxygen and
anesthetics.
inhalations
are given
either dry or
moist.
Dry
inhalation: it
is the
inhalation of
gases, fumes
from volatile
drugs or
burning drugs
.
Moist
inhalation:
breathing
warm and
moist air
produced by
a vaporizer is
called
steam/moist

Evaluatio
n

inhalation.

2mi
n

5mi
n

After the class

students will
be able to
define steam
inhalation

Students will
be able to
illustarte
purposes of
steam
inhalation

Definition:
The gas or vapour in to
which water is changed
when boiled the mist form
when such gas or vapour
condenses in the
atmosphere . any
vapourous exahalation".
" a method of releiving
some of the symptoms of
colds , sinusitis , and
laryngitis by breathing in
hot vapour from a bowl of
hot water. the moisture
loosens secretions in the
nose and throat, making
them easier to clear".

Announcmnt
of the topic:
So today i am
going to
announce the
topice.e,
steam
inhalation. i
am going to
discuss the
definition,
purposes,
methods,
general
instructions,
nurses
responsibility
and
procedures.

Student
teacher will
define steam
inhalation by
using OHP.

illustarte
purposes
of steam
inhalatio
n

Purpose of steam
inhalation:
1. to releive the
inflammation and
congeston of the mucus
membrane of the
respiratory tract and
paranasal sinuses, thus to
produce symptomatic
releive in acute cold and
sinusitis.

Define
the
steam
inhalatio
n

Student
teacher will
discuss

2. to soften thick, tenacious

mucus and helps its
expulsion from respiratory
tract, thus to relieve cough
in bronchitis and in
postoperative cases etc.

purposes of
steam
inahaltion by
using charts.

3. to provide heat and

moiture and to prevent the
dryness of the mucus
membranes of the lung and
upper respiratory passages
following operations such
as tracheostomy.

2mi
n

Student will
be able to list
down the
drugs used in
steam
inhalation

4. to aid in the absorption

of oxygen.
5. to releive spastic
conditions of the larynx and
bronchi.
6. to provide antiseptic
action on the respiratory
tract.

list down
the drugs
used in
steam
inhalatio
n

Drugs used:
1. tr. benzoinn:5ml/500 ml
of boiling water.
Student
Action: skin protectant it
teacher will
works by forming a barrier
discuss drugs
over the affected area.
2. eucalyptus: 2ml/500 ml
of boiling water.
Action: it has anti
inflammatory pulmonary
effects and anitmicrobial
effects.
3. methyl salicylates: few
drops/500mlof boiling
water

used in steam
inahalation by
using
flipchart.

Action: anaesthetic effects

and works as anagesics.
5mi
n

Students will
be able to
explain the
methods for
giving steam
inhalation

explain
the
methods
for giving
steam
inhalatio
n

4. menthol: few crystals

Ation: anaesthetic and
cooling effects.
5. camphor: few crystals /
500 ml of boiling water
Action: acts as topical
analgesics.

Methods of giving
steam inhalation:
1 by jug method
2. by steam tent
3. by electric steam inhaler
1. jug method:
In this method, a nelson's
inhaler is used. the type of
the inhalent required and
the boiling water is filled in
the jug and the patient
breaths the vapour. at
home situation, a tea kettle
or a mug is used. a cone is
made with a card board
paper and is filled over the
kettle or mug through a
small hole made on the top
of the cone the
patient breaths in the
steam.

Steam tent:
When a high concentration
of steam is required, a
steam tent may be used.
there are different ways of

Student
teacher will
discuss
methods of
steam
inhalation by
using flannel
board.

making a tent. a quick and

easy method is to place a
screen on either sides on
the patients bed and
stretch blankets or sheets
across them, fixing them
with safety pins, and
forming a canopy, woolen
blankets and preffered to
sheet because they absorb
moisture and will not drip
over the patient. for child,
the blankets can be
stretched across the top of
the cot. the steam can then
be directed into the tent
from the spout of a kettle.
Electric steam inhaler:
5mi
n

Students will
be able to
explain
general
instructions
for steam
inhalation

Small electric vaporizers

can be used to give steam
inhalation. it consists of a
small jar with a heating
element extending into the
jar. the jar is filled with
water, on the top of the jar
is a removable perforated
cup to which it is attached
to a metal spout.
Cotton saturated with
medications is placed
inside the cup and metal
spout is fitted over the cup.
as the water boils, the
medicated steam is
directed through the spout
which is inhaled by the
patients.

General instructions:
1. always remember the
danger involved of scalding

explain
general
instructio
ns for
steam
inhalatio
n

the patient either with

steam or with the water
coming out of the inhaler.

2. when jug or kettle is

used, fill it only 2/3 with
boiling water to prevent
scalding of the patient. if
the inhaler is filled to the
brim, there is possibility of
drawing water into the
mouth and scalding the
patient.
3. always remember the
danger of fire. if a stove is
used with a kent to
generate steam
continuously, as in the case
of steam tent, the blankets
used may fall on the stove
and catch fire.

10m
in
Students will
be able to
describe the
nurses
responsibility
in the steam
inhalation

4. keep the patient warm

and prevent draught
before, during and after the
inhalation. during the
treatment, the blood
vessels of skin and mucus
membranes and dilated
and the patient is easily
chilled when exposed to
draught.
5. when volatile drugs are
used e.g, menthol, warn
the patient to keep his eyes
closed to prevent the drug
irritating the conjuctiva.
6. watch the patient closely
throughout the procedure

describe
the
nurses
responsib
ility in
the
steam
inhalatio
n

for any adverse effects.

provide a calling device
near the patient to call the
nurse in case of necessity.
7. place a sputum cup in
the reach of the patient to
spit the sputum that is
coughed up during
inhalation.
8. explain the procedure to
the patient before the
preparation of inhalation,
so that no time is lost to
start the inhalation once
the inhaler with boiling
water is taken.

Nurse's
responsibility in the
administartion of
steam inhalation:
Using a nelsons inhaler:
Preliminary assessment:
1. check the patient's
name, bed no. and
identification.
2. check the diagnosis and
the general condition of the
patient.
3. check the physicians
order to see the specific
precautions for the patients
movement and positioning.
4. assess the level of

Student
teacher will
discuss
nurses
resonsibility
by using
charts

consciousness and the

ability to follow
instructions.
5. assess the patient's
ability for self care , his
ability to move and
maintain desire position.
6. check the articles
available in the patient's
unit.

Preparation of
articles:
A tray containing:
1. nelsons inhaler with a
mouth piece tightly fit to
the neck of the inhaler to
use as vaporizer.
2.bowl or basin large
enough to hold the inhaler
to place the inhaler safely.
3. a flannel piece or a towel
wrap around the inhaler to
prevent the heat loss
4. face towel to wipe the
face of the patient.
5. bath blanket or bath
towel to put over the
patients head and jug to
prevent the loss of steam.
6. tr. benzoin or any other
inhalent orderd
7. teaspoon or a minim

glass
8. kettle with boiling water.
9. gauze piece in a
container to wrap around
the mouth piece
10. cotton swabs in a
container to plug the spout
11. kidney tray and paper
bag to receive the wastage.

15m
in
Students will
be able to
demonstrate
the procedure
of steam
inhalation

12. sputum mug with water

and savlon
demonstr
ate the
procedur
e of
steam
inhalatio
n

Preparation of the
patient and the
environment:
1. explain the procedure to
the patient to win his
confidence and
cooperation.
2. make the patient to
understand that he has to
remain in the bed one to
two hours more after the
inhalation.
3. ask the patient to go to
the toilet and empty the
bladder and bowel
4. place the patient in a
fowlers position with a
cardiac table infront if the
movements are

Student
teacher
explains
procedure by
using
demonstartio
n

restricted, place him in a

side lying position or place
him in any position which is
comfortable to him.
5. close the doors and
windows and put off the fan
to prevent drought
6. place the sputum cup in
a convenient place within
the easy reach of the
patient.
7. provide face towel to
wipe the sweating from the
face during the inhalation.

Procedure:
Steps of procedure:
1. measure the capacity of
the inhaler with cold water
Reason: to determine the
amount of inhalent.
2. warm the inhaler by
pouring a little hot water in
to the jug and emptying it.
Reason: to maintain the
temperature of the water,
constant for a longer
period.
3. pour the required
amount of inhalent into the
inahaler to fill the jug 2/3
with hot water and water
should remain just below
the spout.
Reason: if the spout is filled
with water , it will not as an
air inlet. the patient wil not

get warm air.

4. place the mouth piece
and close the jug tightly .
see that the mouth piece is
in the opposite direction to
the spouse.
Reason: this arrangement
keeps

5mi
n

Students will
be able to
explain the
after care of
the patients
and articles

the spout away from the

patient when inhalation is
taken in.
5. cover the mouth piece
with a gauze piece and
plug the spout with a
cotton bll.
Reason: covering the
mouth piece with a gauze
piece will prevent burns of
lips and it will prevent
scape of steam.
6. cover the jug with a
flannel piece or a towel to
insulate the jug and to
prevent the heat loss.
7. place the inhaler in the
basin and take it to the
bedside wihtout loosing
time.
8. place the apparatus
conveniently infront of the
patient with the spout
opposite to the patient.
remove the cotton plug and
discard it into the paper
bag.
Reason: keeping the spout

explain
the after
care of
the
patients
and
articles

Student
teacher will
be discuss
after care of
patients and
articles bu
using
demonstratio
n.

opposite to the patient

reduce the chances of burn.
removing the cotton plug
helps to keep the patency
of the spout for the air.
9. instruct the patient to
place the lips on the mouth
piece and breath in the
vapour. after removing the
lips from the mouth piece
breathout the air
alternately , he should
breath in the steam
through the nostrils.
Reason: directing the
steam through the nostrils
releives the congestion of
the mucus membranes of
the nostrils.
10. cover the patient's
head and jug with a bath
blanket.
Reason: to help to collect
the

steam around the face of

the paaient , thereby
concentration of the steam
will be increased.

After care of patient

and the articles:
1. continue the treatment
for 15 to 20 minutes or as
long as the patients gets
the vapour.
2. remove the inhaler from
the patient after stated

Summary
:
So today i
summarize
my topic
that is
steam
inhaltion. I
have
discussed
definitions,
purposes,
drugs used,
methods,
nurses
resposibility,
preparation
of the
articles,
preparation
of patient
and

time. wipe off the

persipiration from the face.
3. remove the backrest and
the cardiac table. adjust
the position of the patient
in bed making comfortable.
4. instruct into remain in
bed for 1 to 2 hours to
prevent draugt.
5. take the articles to the
utility room. empty the
inhaler, clean it inside with
spirit to rmove tr. benzoin.
then wash it with warm
soapy water.
6. record the procedure on
the nurse's record with
date and time. record the
patients response to the
procedure.
7. return to the patient to
assess his comfort and to
observe any untoward
reaction in him . offer hot
drinks if needed.

envirnonme
nt , and
procedure
for steam
inahalation.

Conclusio
n:
Today i
conclude my
topic steam
inahalation .
" a method
of releiving
some of the
symptoms of
colds ,
sinusitis ,
and
laryngitis by
breathing in
hot vapour
from a bowl
of hot water.
the moisture
loosens
secretions in
the nose and
throat,
making
them easier
to clear".