Anaphylaxis

Mint Julip · Sep 15, 2003

You can find that information in your nursing books.

sjoe · Sep 15, 2003

Or in any nursing dictionary, for that matter. Or the Merck Manual in any public library.

Trauma Columnist · Sep 16, 2003

Aw come on guys - help a sister out!!! Yes, true syncope (loss of counsciousness) can be a sign of anaphylaxis or it may not be. You need to remember though that anaphylaxis is a systemic allergic reaction that doesn't always involve hives. It is life-threatening. Anyone who has had a truly anaphylactic reaction needs to have an epi-pen immediately available at all times. Good luck in school....

angelbear · Sep 16, 2003

Amen traumaRUs!!!! to the sister thing I mean. There is a difference between asking a ligit question and wanting us to do their assignments for them. Why must we be so dang quick to jump at people.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2003

Originally posted by angelbear
Amen traumaRUs!!!! to the sister thing I mean. There is a difference between asking a ligit question and wanting us to do their assignments for them. Why must we be so dang quick to jump at people.

Sorry but I beg to disagree.

This is situation that arises frequently on the BB. The question is one that can be found with a minimum of effort and the OP should be encouraged to expend that effort. And no one "jumped " on the OP - they merely encouraged her to do - what she needs to learn to do if she is to become a successful nurse. To prop her up on basic things will not help her when she goes on to the much more complex - in which she will need our help.

Perhaps, one should not "jump" on those trying to encourage self reliance.

If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day - if you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.

Laurlaur · Sep 16, 2003

Remind me to come in here next time with a suit of armour on to stop the bombardment!!! I was not being lazy in asking the question, it took me longer to log on here than look in a book!I just wanted an answer that was from clinical experience than a dry textbook! I've asked questions on my ward before, had a dirty look and told "go find a textbook", so I was just hoping for a friendly response here, so thank you to trauma and angelbear, I'm due to qualify in a year so when I have students ask me something I'll try to be like you and give them a positive answer. I really did appreciate your answer angelbear and trauma to my question, so thank you, I hope I will come across more nurses like you in my career.

Mint Julip · Sep 16, 2003

Um, okay...sorry that you feel that way, Laurlaur, but the answers you were seeking can be found in any number of resources and as caroladybelle stated "with a minimum of effort". I could see if that information was obscure. Do a search on google and see just how much information pops up. In your original posting you never stated that you were looking for an answer that was from clinical experience and not from a text book so how are we supposed to know that? Just because some of us didn't give you the answers you wanted doesn't make us the enemy :rolleyes:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2003

The anaphylaxis I've seen clinically has been usually manisfested with dyspnea, chest pain, or started with a rash. Never have I seen syncope. But that doesn't mean that it doesn't. Let us know what your research reveals.

As for the other thing, it's the history that proceeds you. You'd be surprised at the number of questions this bb gets from students wanting other people to do their research for them. Don't be so quick to put on that suit of armor and fight back. I thought the responses above were appropriate and were not "bombardment". Get some skin, you're going to need it. :)

angelbear · Sep 17, 2003

Laurlaur, Unfortunately tweety is correct it does help for nurses to develope a thick skin. Nurses really do eat their young and very often their not so young. I personally have had a very hard time developing that thick skin. Take heart though most of the nastiness is reserved for coworkers patient care is usually quite kind and compassionate.

Gldngrl · Sep 17, 2003

What's really sad is that nurses justify their responses by stating that other nurses need to "look it up" or "do their own work" (my own italics). This is a simple question that could have been answered simply. Some people can read a text, but not necessarily remember symptoms by rote, but may remember by stories or others' experiences. When I was in law school, I was bored to tears by reading casebooks and had a hard time understanding them, but my profs and internship mentors broke things down, explained it and never told me to simply look it up- they went over the statutes, etc with me and we analysed them. Made the experience less frustrating and lawyers more tolerable :) (HAHA)

kids · Sep 17, 2003

I think that when posting a question like this the responses are MUCH more helpful if "we" are told what the poster already knows. That way "we" can be sure "we" are not doing homework.

A *better* way to have posted this question would be: I have read up on anaphylaxis and understand x, y, & z but would like to know in your clinical experience how you have seen it present.

BTW, I have never observed anaphylaxis clinically other than in a trached child (no loss of airway), the child did experience syncope and sustained low BPs. I can tell you that I am one of those people in who it presents as a hot flushing sensation immediately followed by a crushing sensation in the chest then LOC and respiratory arrest...in a 60 second span.