My Working Day: Frances Guiney, asthma nurse specialist with the Asthma Society of Ireland, aims to encourage people with asthma to lead healthy, active lives.
The word asthma is a Greek verb literally translated as "to breathe with the mouth open".
In Ireland more than 470,000 people have asthma and over half of those are children. It is the most common condition in children seen in general practice today.
Our family day starts at 6.30am as we like to have breakfast together before my husband and sons leave for work and school at 7.30am. I then spend an hour or so on outstanding matters for the asthma society. I find this is the most productive part of my day's work as I have no interruptions from the phone.
Then, if it's mid-week, I cycle into the society's head office and operate the helpline from 9.30am-1pm.
The most common topics of discussion with callers include asthma in general, information about medication, changes in symptoms and what to do, inhaler technique and referral to another professional for further help.
Some callers have already received advice from their doctor or nurse and are simply phoning to get a second opinion, or to clarify what they have been told. But the helpline is not working to alienate the caller from their nurse or doctor - in fact we aim to be considered by health professionals as a valuable resource, reinforcing educational messages and offering additional information to their patients.
The strong message I try to get across is that asthma is controllable, that children and adults affected by asthma can and should be able to lead healthy active lives, and I want to encourage them to achieve this.
You're dealing with people and you have to be very decisive and be able to respond to questions and give people direction and suggestions.
Prior to this I specialised in intensive care. I was a sister in intensive care at the Blackrock Clinic and I became interested in the whole respiratory area.
My experience with cardiac and intensive care makes you realise that there could be something else going on and giving them direction and suggestions.
Lots of people say to me "I've learned so much from you in eight or 10 minutes".
I work on the helpline three mornings a week and the other two mornings, Monday and Friday, are spent organising events and education and medical committee work.
I organise talks and study days and attend conferences and symposia and I am on a lot of medical committees.
We also run a lot of awareness days in chemists and big organisations, and last year we brought in the school policy: we talked to teachers about how to use the medication and what to do in an asthma attack.
I work closely with the rest of the team in the asthma society - without them I would not be able to function so I appreciate their support.
I'm very passionate about the whole area and I do feel privileged that I can do this, especially when a caller says thank you and tells me that I have made a difference.
For more information call the helpline on 01-878-122 or visit www.asthmasociety.ie