Allergy bands

[sharann, BSN, RN]

We use red ID bands with the type off allergy/ies written on them for our allergic pts. I think this is great(when they are in fact placed ON the patient and not IN their chart. My beef is with staff being unable to assess a true allergy from a side effect or a reaction. Example: In our recovery room we recieve post-ops with an allergy band on and it says "Allergic to pollen". Also, it may be a "Codiene allergy"....When questioned, the patient says, "Vicodin makes me sleepy" or "it constipates me". These are NOT allergies and I can't seem to explain to the pre-op nurses that they need to question the TYPE of reaction. What if the say they're allergic to PCN (it upsets their stomachs)? The patient could be missing life saving treatment for an "allergy" misunderstanding.

I jsut wondered what others see occuring in this way.

[IamRN]

Most, if not all, of the hospital settings I have worked at included a section immediately after listing the allergies as to the type of sympton considered to be an allergic reaction.

My thought is that *everyone* should wear an allergy band, those that don't have any allergies should simply be labeled w/"NKDA." This seems to be a way to make sure that everyone's allergies are addressed...v. the possibility of the pt having an allergy and not wearing a band.

I myself always list Reglan and Compazine as an allergy, although what I get is actually a severe side effect...Extrapyramidal Side Effect.

[sharann, BSN, RN]

I get the same thing w/ Compazine. Horrible rxn!!!

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Where I work, we're required to put ALL allergies on the band, including those which are more properly labeled as "sensitivities", e.g., they make the patient suffer some adverse effect. For example, ACE inhibitors give me the gnarliest dry cough, MS makes me want to claw my face off, and Levaquin merely causes me to barf my goolies out. The only drug I am truly "allergic" to is sulfa (isn't everybody??), but all four of these are listed as allergies on my medical chart so I won't inadvertently be given any of them. Be that as it may, I let my doctors and nurses know that I will accept morphine as a painkiller as long as I get Vistaril or Atarax to ward off the itching; likewise, if a fluoroquinolone is THE only drug to treat my pneumonia, someone had better throw in some Reglan. (Just don't give me sulfa, unless you're ready to intubate and shoot me full of epi!)

I think that our system makes sense, as long as both patient and medical personnel understand that an allergic reaction and unpleasant side effects are not one and the same. That takes education; regretfully, we usually don't have the time to explain all this to patients, who often could benefit from drugs they're "allergic" to if only the side effects were managed correctly.

[Jrnalist2RNinOR]

Do very many people use it (or any other type of ID "tag" that can be used all the time)

I know I have one....it seems so easy ...you put it around your neck or wrist and leave it on...I even got one in silver that looks nice

I have a sensitivity to a lot of metals, since I cant really wear earrings and I havent had a problem with the bracelets or necklaces...

I've only had a few people ask me what it is or recognize what it is...people really dont know....

[JACALA_CL]

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH, actually has a policy on allergy band placement. (see below url)

http://wahoo.utmb.edu/policy/nursing/search/07-02-57.pdf

As an emergency room nurse I do find the allergy bands extremely helpful. At my hospital we have an additional piece of paper work to fill out: the "CAUTION" sheet. This sheet allows us to list all allergies and sensitivities to any allergen (drug, environmental etc) and the reaction to the allergen and also when the allergy was first detected.