A Nurse's Guide to Inhaler Devices - Optimizing Asthma and COPD Management - Kristi Kelley

January 30, 2026

Nurses in primary care and ambulatory clinics support the management of patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They educate patients, monitor therapy, administer medications, and ensure proper inhaler technique. Despite these responsibilities, incorrect inhaler use remains common, training significantly reduces these errors. Current guidelines emphasize that inhaler technique and adherence should be checked at every clinic visit, meaning nurses must be equipped to assess technique and support adherence. This task is complicated by the abundance of inhaler devices. Several different inhalers exist, and the three main types- pressurized metered‑dose inhalers (pMDI), dry powder inhalers (DPI), and soft mist inhalers (SMI) - have distinct instructions and patient considerations. Choosing the right device and teaching proper technique can be particularly challenging for older adults, children or individuals with limited dexterity or inspiratory flow.

 

Target Audience

This experience and knowledge-based course is intended for Nurses and Social Workers . 

Learning Objectives

1. Explain mechanisms of medication delivery of different inhaler devices (pMDIs, DPIs and SMIs).
2. Compare the advantages, disadvantages and key considerations for each inhaler type, such as inspiratory flow requirements, need for spacers and environmental impact.
3. Demonstrate correct inhaler technique for pMDIs, DPIs and SMIs, including the use of spacers and different inhalation techniques.
4. Identify common inhaler‑use errors and propose strategies for assessing and correcting technique at clinic visits.
5. Summarize guideline recommendations from the 2025 GINA (asthma) and 2025 GOLD (COPD) reports regarding inhaler selection, technique assessment and follow‑up.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.20 ABN
    Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy is a board-approved provider of continuing nursing education in Alabama by the Alabama Board of Nursing. Provider Number: ABNP1515
  • 1.00 ABSWE
Course opens: 
01/29/2026
Course expires: 
12/04/2028
Event starts: 
01/30/2026 - 10:00am CST
Event ends: 
01/30/2026 - 11:00am CST
Cost:
$0.00
Rating: 
0
Baptist Health Foundation Center for Medical and Surgical Care - Princeton Medical Center -
Birmingham, AL
United States

Kristi W. Kelley, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS, BCACP, CDE, BC-ADM is a Clinical Professor at the Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy. Dr. Kelley earned both her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (1999) and Doctor of Pharmacy (2000) degrees at the Harrison School of Pharmacy. She completed an ASHP-accredited Primary Care Residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2001.

In addition to teaching in her clinical practice, Dr. Kelley is also involved in didactic teaching, service, and scholarship within the School.  Complementing her practice and research interests is Dr. Kelley’s involvement in professional associations, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Alabama chapter of ASHP (ALSHP), the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), serving on a variety of committees and holding leadership roles.

While on faculty at Auburn, Dr. Kelley has been honored to receive the Hargreaves Faculty Mentor Award, Roche's Preceptor of the Year, and be recognized as a Preceptor of Excellence four times. Dr. Kelley was part of a three-member team that received the school's inaugural Excellence in Teaching award and were also recognized as the school's representatives at the 2014 AACP Annual Meeting as a "Teacher of the Year." In 2018, Dr. Kelley was again awarded HSOP's Excellence in Teaching award. In 2016, Dr. Kelley was the recipient of ACCP's Education Award.

Dr. Kelley’s scholarship interests include diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and pharmacy education. She has published and presented on these topics at both the regional and national level.  In addition, she has served as invited faculty for ASHP recertification programs and ACCP’s Teaching and Learning Academy/Certificate Program.


Practice Site

Dr. Kelley practices at the Continuity Clinics with Brookwood Baptist Health, Internal Medicine Residency Program in Birmingham, Alabama where she serves as non-physician faculty. She is responsible for planning, implementing, and managing all pharmacy services related to patient care while precepting pharmacy students on ambulatory care rotations. During her time with HSOP, she has established clinical pharmacy services in three outpatient internal medicine clinics in the Birmingham area.


Dr. Kelley will be working with HCOP PharmD Candidates 2026 - Shane Enriquez and Erinn Goins to present this in-service.

Shane Enriquez HCOP PharmD Candidate 2026
During her advanced practice experiences at Princeton Baptist Medical Center, Shane Enriquez has gained experience managing chronic respiratory diseases in diverse ambulatory settings. She has collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to optimize medication therapy, provided patient education on inhaler devices, and is passionate about empowering nurses to improve inhaler technique and adherence. Her presentation combines evidence‑based guidelines with practical tips to help nursing staff support patients with asthma and COPD.


Erinn Goins HCOP PharmD Candidate 2026
During her APPE year, Erinn has utilized her clinical knowledge and communication skills to effectively engage with patients and identify their individualized healthcare needs. She has worked collaboratively with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to optimize patient care and actively participate in clinical discussions. As part of her role, Erinn has provided evidence-based recommendations and counseled patients on medication therapy and lifestyle modifications aimed at improving health outcomes and overall quality of life.

 

Auburn University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education; credits are recognized nationwide. The program is intended for Nurses and Social Workers. 

Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy is a Board-approved provider of continuing nursing education in Alabama by the Alabama Board of Nursing. Provider Number: ABNP1515.

Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy is a Board approved provider of continuing education for social workers by the Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners. Provider Number: 0643.

Available Credit

  • 1.20 ABN
    Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy is a board-approved provider of continuing nursing education in Alabama by the Alabama Board of Nursing. Provider Number: ABNP1515
  • 1.00 ABSWE

Price

Cost:
$0.00
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