Gave my first epi-pen yesterday...

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Student ate a granola bar and a bag of flavored chips. Then she broke out in hives. I gave her Benadryl. Then the hives got worse. No other symptoms. I gave her more Benadryl and called mom to come get her. As mom was on her way, student started c/o shortness of breath. "I feel like there's a bubble in my chest." Epi-pen given. Called 911. Called mom again so she would know what happened and so she wouldn't panic when she saw the ambulances in the parking lot.

I worked in the ER, so I have treated many allergic reactions, but I have never actually used an Epi-pen before. I guess I can check that one off my bucket list (?!?) now.

Sorry Farawyn. Can you tell I don't post here often? I will be sure to keep those ellipses in check in the future!

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Sorry Farawyn. Can you tell I don't post here often? I will be sure to keep those ellipses in check in the future!

Good lion.

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Specializes in School nurse.

Yeah, parents doubting what we do (or don't do) for their kids because they went to nursing school and... I mean because they know how to google and then they go and tell the doctor everything with complete accuracy.

Yeah, that's a whole 'nother topic.

(I ONLY USED THREE!!!)

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.
I have my eyes on all of you.

cOOl.

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Yeah, parents doubting what we do (or don't do) for their kids because they went to nursing school and... I mean because they know how to google and then they go and tell the doctor everything with complete accuracy.

Yeah, that's a whole 'nother topic.

(I ONLY USED THREE!!!)

If you make that mistake then you can't sit with us again.

(although I may give you a pass because I love Hyperbole and a half)

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Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.

Why does Far hate the ellipses so much?!

I have a relative who uses a tilde in place of nearly every other punctuation mark out there. THAT drives me bananas. Thankfully I haven't seen any of you guys do that so my sanity remains intact. So far, anyway.

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~~~~~~~~

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.
Why does Far hate the ellipses so much?!

She just hates when you don't stick to the rule of three. She really loves ellipses, only on her terms.:up:

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She just hates when you don't stick to the rule of three. She really loves ellipses, only on her terms.:up:

:inlove:

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So scary! Thank you all for sharing your stories and what actions you took. I only sub for the school nurses and haven't had to use an epi pen. Hopefully I never will!

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Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
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I knew that was coming. I admit, I had to google it though :)

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Benadryl by mouth, if they're conscious of course. The injectable works faster but I don't know of any schools or patients that have it on hand; usually in ERs or Urgent Cares.

Last time I was in the ER personally for anaphylaxis, I was told I waited too long to give epi. This is important to always remember.

It's better to give it a little early than to have waited too late.

The training I received and the video I used for training the schools says the protocol now is not to use Benadryl at all but go straight to epi-pens.

There have been so many cases of waiting too long to use epi-pens.

Epinephrine is a very safe drug.

Keep a 2nd epi-pen handy as well because the child can get worse after initially getting better.

...

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