A school nurse is caring for a child who has asthma and begins to have difficulty breathing. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. Administer two puffs of albuterol: Albuterol is a bronchodilator used as a quick-relief (rescue) medication for asthma attacks. It helps to open the airways and alleviate difficulty breathing. The nurse should administer albuterol as directed to help relieve the child’s symptoms. B. Instruct the child to perform controlled breathing exercises: While controlled breathing exercises can be helpful for managing asthma, they are not the first action during an acute asthma attack. The priority is to use a quick-relief medication like albuterol. C. Place the child in the supine position: Placing the child in the supine (lying flat) position could worsen breathing difficulty. The child should be placed in an upright position to help facilitate better airflow and reduce breathing distress during an asthma attack. D. Encourage the use of a flutter mucus clearance device: A flutter mucus clearance device is used to help clear mucus in the lungs, but it is not appropriate for managing acute asthma symptoms. The priority is to administer a bronchodilator to relieve airway constriction.